FARMINGTON — Commissioners delayed a decision Tuesday on a request to allow all-terrain vehicles and snowmobile riders to ride on a portion of the East Madrid Road in Madrid Township.

Giving ATV club members and the public an opportunity to weigh in on the discussion, the board opted to postpone a discussion of liability and potential bond costs until its next meeting, planned for Aug. 17.

Donald Whittemore of Farmington made the request on behalf of the Narrow Gauge Riders, an ATV Club, and Northern Franklin Snowmobile Riders. Club members would like to ride about two miles on the East Madrid Road from a trail near Four Corners to a trail near the Phillips line, Whittemore said.

While state laws could cover county liability for injury while riding along the road, damage to the road itself should be covered by the club posting a bond, Commissioner Gary McGrane suggested.

“We want to be as open and lenient as possible but not put the county in a liable situation,” he said.

Commissioners agreed the cost of appropriate signage along the road should also fall on the club’s shoulders and the cost of a bond for road damage. They also wanted more research on how other towns handle these requests.

In other business, commissioners accepted a total of $58,932 in Urban/Rural Initiative Program funds that will be used for road repair in the unorganized territories of Franklin County.

They accepted a bid of $10,550 from Harville Painting of Skowhegan for exterior wood trim at the courthouse except for the clock tower and authorized posting for a part-time clerical position at the Franklin County Detention Center.

Commissioners also encouraged a consultation be held between a representative from the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards and the Salem Fire Department to see what issues need to be addressed to help the township’s volunteer fire entity come into compliance with state standards, especially in regard to record keeping.

The department has complied with the state annual report and been reinstated as a first responder for Salem Township. Previously, commissioners voted to have the Kingfield Fire Department be the first responder to the township until the department came into compliance with the state.

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