RANGELEY – The Planning Board recently voted 4-0 to uphold the code enforcement officer’s decision that boat slips sold at Haines Landing Marina in Oquossoc do not need subdivision review.

A fifth board member did not vote because of a conflict of interest.

The Mooselookmeguntic Improvement Association had appealed CEO Robert Griscom’s decision.

“The owner did not propose an expansion. He bought a set of docks formerly leased to people. That doesn’t change the use of the docks but changes the form of ownership,” Griscom said earlier about his initial decision that the project did not need a subdivision review.

Larry Spellman of Abbadrew Realty Trust in Ossipee, N.H., bought the marina last year with the intention of selling slips to boat owners.

Richard Toas, who is selling the slips, said previously that buyers receive a deed and title to the slip and become part of an association. They can then own the slip forever with the docks considered a common area for association members.

If the association intends to pursue the decision further, the next step would take it back to Franklin County Superior Court, he said.

“The association hasn’t decided on that,” said Ed Kfoury, a director of the Mooselookmeguntic group. “Odds are we will appeal. It’s a complicated topic best left for the court to decide,” he said, explaining how association members feel the board had made a mistake.

Appeals last fall were taken to court where a judge determined Griscom’s decision could be appealed before the Planning Board. The association returned to the board asking it to require a review of the project.

The board dealt with the appeal during meetings in September, after a public hearing earlier that month. After an executive session last week with the town’s attorney, the board agreed that the way the town ordinance is written, it is not a subdivision, Griscom said.

While not objecting to the docks being sold to individuals, association members were concerned about safety issues, Kfoury said earlier. Other aspects of concern to members include parking, bathrooms, a guarantee of on-site supervision and assurances that the fuel filling tank will stay. It’s the only public gas pump on the 11-mile-long lake, he said.

“The issues would be addressed with a Planning Board review. The public would have a chance to speak and rules of operation could be created,” he said.