HARTFORD — The Road Committee has “petered out,” Selectmen Chairman Lee Holman told the board Thursday night, and it was recommended the Planning Board take those duties.

The board said some Planning Board members have road knowledge. And Holman said Road Commissioner Jeremy Johnson has attended a few Road Committee meetings.

Holman suggested the board ask the Ordinance Committee to see how it could combine the Road Committee and Planning Board ordinances in time for the annual town meeting.

Holman said the Road Committee is an advisory panel, but Planning Board member Arthur Harvey said that wasn’t entirely true. The Road Committee has authority to solicit bids for road projects.

Selectman Jack Plumley said he didn’t want selectmen on the Road Committee or Planning Board, because he didn’t want them to feel they were being pressured.

Morril Nason reported water running across South Paw Lane and Barry Road freezes and creates a serious hazard.

Plumley said he was aware of it and would call Johnson.

Plumley agreed to look into the cost of contracting for roadside mowing, after the board discussed that the town mower could not be fixed inexpensively, if at all.

Harvey said the Planning Board is dissatisfied that permits issued by the code enforcement officer are no longer published in The Hartford News, a printed publication by the town.

Plumley said he complained last year about having his name in the town newsletter for having a permit for tree harvesting. He said he didn’t think everyone should know how much people received from cutting timber.

Selectman Zoe Cowett said such information is not listed on the permit.

The board voted to attend the RSU 10 hearing on the Buckfield school withdrawal petition at 6 p.m. April 9 at the Buckfield Town Office. They also recommended the Budget Committee reschedule its meeting so its members could attend.

A Patriot’s Day celebration will be held at 1 p.m. April 14, at the Hartford Town Hall. Admission is free.

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