POLAND — Selectmen agreed Tuesday to place Autumn Drive in the Wedgewood Estates subdivision on the April town meeting warrant for acceptance as a town road.

The decision followed a request by about 15 members of the Wedgewood Estates Homeowners Association, who also wanted Wedgewood Circle put on the warrant.

Initially, selectmen balked, saying that when the subdivision was built in 2006 it was approved with two waivers: one permitting it to be built without sidewalks and the other allowing for a cul-de-sac with a turning radius smaller than called for in the ordinance.

Brian Merrill, the subdivision developer, argued that the two roads were some of the best built in town and done with an eye toward eventual acceptance as town ways.

“It was always the intention that they would be town roads,” Merrill said.

Selectman Walter Gallagher said putting roads that fail to meet current road standards before town meeting for acceptance would set a bad precedent.

Resident John DeSanctis urged common sense in evaluating a road’s suitability for acceptance as a town way.

“Drive up Carpenter Road, and then drive on our road — enough said,” DeSanctis said.

Association homeowners chuckled at the comparison between Carpenter Road, a town road in less than perfect condition, and well-ditched, newly paved Autumn Drive.

“It would be a free-for-all,” Gallagher said. A road can’t go to town meeting for an acceptance vote unless it meets ordinance requirements, he said.

Sheldon Nightingale, homeowners’ association president, cautioned that if the board didn’t allow a town vote on the roads, “Sixty homeowners will be very disgruntled.”

Selectman Steve Robinson said he would like to speak with members of the Planning Board who approved the subdivision’s waivers, because apparently they believed the ordinance ought to be changed.

“I’d like to know the intent of the waiver,” he said.

Selectmen agreed to place acceptance of Autumn Drive on the warrant. They also asked that the association contact the Planning Board and ask to be placed on its April 8 meeting agenda to discuss the road ordinance, particularly as it might pertain to roads in the development.

In other business, Lee O’Connor of the Poland Fire-Rescue Benevolent Association offered the town a $50,000 rescue vehicle. It is essentially a snowmobile on a platform that is capable of operating equally well on snow, ice and water. Selectmen, noting the potential benefit of such a craft to a town with as many lakes as Poland, accepted the gift with many thanks.

Selectmen also accepted the resignations of Kevin Pacheco and Daniel Ouellette from the Community and Economic Development Committee and appointed Arthur Berry and Cyndi Robbins to succeed them.

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