BUCKFIELD — Town Manager Glen Holmes told selectmen Tuesday night that money left in SAD 39’s accounts after it joined the Western Foothills School District can be taken all at once or over three years to reduce education costs.
That was the opinion of Superintendent Tom Ward, Holmes told the board.
The leftover funds could be as much as $700,000 for the three district towns of Hartford, Sumner and Buckfield, but that amount won’t be confirmed until an audit in October. Holmes said he thinks the town should take its share, which will be around $300,000, and invest it to draw interest.
In other business, Jackie Dwinal made a plea for the selectmen to do some work on Hammond Hill Road, which has been abandoned. The board was concerned that it would set a precedent for other abandoned roads.
The Dwinal family said they would be willing to share the cost of having the road graded so they could have their timber harvested and keep the forests healthy.
Selectman Chip Richardson suggested they meet with some of the other seven landowners and see it they could share the $600 cost of having the road graded. Holmes said it would take a day because the road needed gravel and was not in shape to grade.
The Dwinals said they could supply gravel.
The board will inspect the road to see what can be done.
Kyes Insurance was awarded the contract for town insurance.
Gerald Samson was appointed alternate code enforcement officer for two years.
The board adjourned to Bessey Memorial Field after Holmes read a letter from Clifford H. Goodall, attorney for Tony Bachelder. Bachelder raises bees across from the field and claims that the addition of lights on the ball field can cause numerous problems. His bees may go to the lights and get lost when the lights go out or they may swarm over the spectators, therefore becoming a hazard where the town would have no immunity.
Bachelder made an offer to buy the property so the ball field could be moved away from his bee farm.

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