Government at a glance

Board: Minot Selectmen

Met: Monday night

Code Enforcement

Issue: Questions were raised as to whether the small engine repair shop and residence at 131 Minot Ave. were in compliance with the town’s land use ordinance.

The scoop: Selectmen learned that the owner of the business, Tom Larochelle, who resides at the location, met with the Planning Board last week. The Planning Board ruled that Larochelle’s operation qualifies as a home occupation. It must meet the ordinance’s space requirements that accessory structures may contain up to 800 square feet of floor area and outside storage area no more than 625 square feet. Selectmen expressed concern that Larochelle’s operation may exceed one or both of these requirements. They will await Code Enforcement Officer Ken Pratt’s report on measurements.

Up next: If the requirements for a display area and a work area are met, all is well; if not, Larochelle will be given 30 days to comply with the ordinance.

Property Revaluation

Issue: Towns are obligated to make sure that assessed property values, used for calculating property taxes, are in line with property values as determined by the real estate market.

The scoop: Selectmen considered hiring an outside assessing firm to conduct a property value update in 2011 or 2012 and agreed to ask town meeting voters to approve funding for the revaluation.

Up next: Townspeople will vote on a townwide property revaluation at the March 6 town meeting.

School start-up costs

Issue: The town of Poland paid about $111,000 for costs associated with setting up Regional School Unit 16 and wants the towns of Mechanic Falls and Minot to reimburse it for their shares.

The scoop: Selectmen reviewed an itemized statement of the expenses, which showed that the main expenses were $45,610 for legal fees and $56,211 for software-related repair/maintenance.

Up next: Selectmen forwarded the bill for Minot’s share ($20,421) and backup documentation to the town’s auditor for review.

Cable TV Contract

The scoop: Following review of the draft for the contract with Time Warner by William Perry of the town cable committee, the contract was amended to include a schedule for upgrading the equipment and returned to Time Warner for, what selectmen hope, is final approval.

Town Office Contracts

The scoop: Selectmen approved a contract for Arlan Saunders to continue as town administrator/road manager from Feb. 1, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2011, and approved a letter of agreement for Constance Taker to continue as town treasurer from Feb. 1, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2011.

— Winslow Durgin