POLAND — Selectmen on Tuesday were asked to reconsider their decision to post no trespassing signs on the town’s Lower Range Pond Dam.

 

Resident Donald Stover told selectmen he considered the area surrounding the dam on Waterhouse Brook, near the town’s Fire Rescue Station, one of the town’s more attractive assets — and one that ought to be developed as a park area for the enjoyment of all.

 

“It’s an ideal place to launch a canoe or kayak, it wouldn’t take a great deal, a few minor things, to really enhance the area,” Stover said.

 

Stover suggested a bridge might be built over the spillway, a link to nature trails, and perhaps some dedicated parking might be included in the project to upgrade the Fire Rescue Station, the better to help utilize the area.

 

Stover presented selectmen with photographs of what the area looked like 30 years ago, open and inviting, as well as photographs of small dams in Harrison and Bridgton, and Songo Locks, where small public parks have been created.

 

On Larry Moreau’s motion, selectmen unanimously agreed that Stover should take his suggestions to the town’s Conservation Commission to see what it thinks of the area’s potential and to return with a plan.

 

When selectmen decided, two weeks ago, to post the area with no trespassing signs, they did it for safety reasons, essentially extending the postings on the nearby bridge that forbid diving and swimming to the area around the dam, to prevent the town being held liable for accidents.

 

With this in mind, selectmen also suggested the town seek advice from Maine Municipal Association lawyers regarding the town’s liability should it decide to develop the area.

 

In his report Public Works Director Jim Scott told selectmen that his crew this week assisted Mechanic Falls Water Department personnel in installing a 6-inch water line for the Town Hall. The line supplies high pressure water for the building’s new sprinkler system.

 

Scott said he expects the line to be flushed and tested this Wednesday and the trench, which traverses the parking lot between the Town Hall and the Town Office, will be paved over as soon as possible.

 

In other business, selectmen agreed to hold a workshop Sept. 11 for a town goal-setting session. They also approved a request from the Poland Historical Society for a temporary sign permit to erect a “thermometer” style sign that shows the status of efforts to raise funds to construct a memorabilia barn addition to the old schoolhouse.

 

Selectmen accepted the resignation of Fred Huntress as president of the historical society, directing that a letter be sent to Huntress thanking him for his years of service.

 

Selectmen also accepted a donation from the Corwin R. Packard Trust in the amount of $21,088 for the Poland’s Highland Cemetery Trust and, in a related matter, approved a policy whereby monetary gifts in excess of $500 being made to the town, be reported on the financial statement that is presented to the board monthly.