MEXICO — Concerns over easement and property lines for the end of Backkingdom Road were among topics mentioned at Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting.
Construction has been ongoing for the dead-end portion of the road, including building a new turnaround for town plows and school buses.
The issue Town Manager John Madigan had been concerned with was where the town road ended and property belonging to Albert Aniel began. For years the town had been using Aniel’s property as a turnaround and plowing up into his driveway in the winter.
Madigan learned that the town’s property actually stopped 200 feet before Aniel’s driveway.
“With research we learned that in 1992 the selectmen had reached an agreement with Dr. Aniel,” Madigan said. “He agreed to waive any liability to the town for driving on his land and using it as a turnaround and the town would continue to plow his property.”
With the new road construction and turnaround, the town no longer needs to use the Aniel property.
Aniel approached Madigan with concerns that his driveway would no longer be plowed, even though it had been past practice before he owned it.
Selectman George Byam noted that according to state regulations towns were not allowed to plow private driveways.
“I’m worried we are opening ourselves up to a huge mess if we continue this,” Byam said. “By doing this we are taking business away from private contractors who plow.”
The issue was to be placed on the agenda for the next board meeting.
Tammy Schmersal of the Recreation Board addressed selectman about a new soccer program.
Schmersal said 100 children had signed up for the program and the new Recreation Director, Wayne Sevigney, had informed her that community support from parents and volunteers was outstanding.
“We also have a new Facebook page strictly for the Recreation Department called River Valley Recreation Center, Schmersal said. “It will have schedules and information about what we are doing.”
The Recreation Department has also contacted Jack Gibson of Marshall L. and Ruth-Anne Gibson Municipal Charitable Program in hopes of a one-time $10,000 grant.
In other business, selectmen moved to hire Paul Garrido of Rumford as a reserve officer for the Police Department.
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- Town Manager John Madigan, right, addresses selectmen Tuesday night concerning town property at the end of Backkingdom Road. Past practice has had the town plowing property that belongs to Albert Aniel, but due to road improvements and a new turnaround, a decision was needed on whether to continue plowing snow on Aniel’s land.
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