BUCKFIELD — After hearing additional information from the Road Committee Tuesday night, selectmen Tuesday night rescinded their previous vote to close McAlister Road to maintenance.
Glen Holmes of the town Road Committee said he spoke to the Maine Department of Transportation on how it measured the roads and any way they measured McAlister Road, all measurements were past where the town usually maintained it by hundreds of feet. At one time, he said, CMP Pole 15 was the end of the road, which is off Route 117 in the southwest corner of town.
The board voted 2-1 to take over maintenance to a turnaround past Pole 15. Robin Buswell and Rodney Allen voted for; Martha Catevenis against.
The board approved the application of Rick Nichols of Minot for Public Works foreman. He will start Wednesday.
Holmes was concerned that the road commissioner, Town Manager Dana Lee of Mechanic Falls, and Nichols live out of town so how would they be alerted to road conditions.
Nichols said his mother-in-law, Jodie Douglas, lives in Buckfield and he could stay there when storms were forecast.
Lee said he would also have a cellphone on at all times and even if the town center looked good, the hills were a different story.
Nichols said he would stay on top of things.
A warrant for a special town meeting at 9 a.m. Dec. 8 at Buckfield junior-Senior High School auditorium was approved. Articles include a special amusement ordinance and whether to join the Maine Public Employees Retirement System.
Another is whether to to support a court decision to rescind the conservation easement accepted by voters at a special town meeting Dec. 17, 2002. The easement is attached to property now or formerly owned by Dale Eichorn on the discontinued portion of Cummings Road.
A General Assistance ordinance hearing was held before Tuesday’s board meeting and the board adopted the new maximums: an unheated three-bedroom apartment or house would have a maximum allowance of $673 monthly and a heated one at $847 monthly.
The board accepted the audit report by Ron Smith of RHR Smith & Co. He said finances were in good shape.
Steve Scotia was appointed to the Recreation Committee.
Eileen Hotham spoke in favor of the town continuing to consider a new fire and rescue building. The board thinks more research is needed before it can be put before the town for a vote.
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