DIXFIELD — The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted Monday evening to prohibit the use of Jake brakes on Holman Corner on Route 2 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Discussion on the issue began at the June 9 selectmen meeting when police Chief Richard Pickett said he had heard complaints from residents about the excessive use of Jake brakes by tractor-trailer trucks.
“The chief recently called me and told me that he had three areas of concern: Weld Street, downtown Dixfield and Holman Corner, near the Maine Department of Transportation building,” Town Manager Carlo Puiia told selectmen.
“It sounds like a legitimate concern to me,” Selectman Dana Whittemore replied. “If it was my house that trucks were using their J-brakes in front of, I would be upset.”
Selectman Scott Belskis said he was concerned about placing constraints on the use of the Jake brakes when “the majority of the problems could be due to an illegal exhaust system.”
One resident in the audience said, “Someone is using their Jake brakes every morning around 3 a.m.” Another resident said truck drivers are using their Jake brakes any time between 11 p.m. and the early morning hours.
Police Lt. Jeff Howe said officers could patrol the areas but without any sort of sign posted, there’s nothing to enforce.
“I think the chief’s plan is to place restrictions on all three of the areas that he mentioned, but I know that he wants us to do a little more research on some of the other problem areas before we bring a proposal to you,” Howe added.
Puiia told selectmen they could vote to place signs on Holman Corner.
The board voted to place two signs on Route 2 near Holman Corner, stating that the use of Jake brakes on that section of road is prohibited from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
In other business, the board voted to approve the warrant for the Aug. 12 referendum on two budget articles rejected during the June 10 referendum.
Residents voted down $297, 667 for the Executive Department, 206-217; and $15,515 for Code Enforcement, 192-210.
Puiia said the new Executive Department budget proposal is $293,167; Code Enforcement, renamed Health, Animal and Code Enforcement, is $14,515.
A hearing on the warrant articles is set for 5 p.m. Monday, July 14, before the selectmen meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Ludden Memorial Library.
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- Dixfield Town Manager Carlo Puiia, left, Selectman Hart Daley, middle, and Selectman Mac Gill review the proposed Aug. 12 warrant at Monday evening’s meeting.
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