BUCKFIELD — Soon, the town will have a shiny, newish lawn ornament on display at its Public Works Facility, thanks to a resident who enjoys rehabbing old equipment.
After tabling the issue two previous times to gather more information, the Buckfield Board of Selectmen on Tuesday accepted Charles Rabon’s offer to rehab an abandoned and long-forgotten grader at no cost to the town. The piece of equipment is behind the Rescue Department’s substation on Loring Hill and North Hill roads, and his proposal included removing the grader, sand-blasting and painting it and then putting it on display.
“It’s just a hobby of his and something he wants to do,” Town Manager Cindy Dunn told selectmen.
“I like the idea of it being displayed in town partly because a lot of people have come forward and been sort of pleased with the project,” Selectman Maida Demers-Dobson said, noting it doesn’t mean if children get hurt from playing around the equipment, the town couldn’t remove or sell the grader.
“I have never known kids to hang out in there but who knows,” Dunn said, laughing. She added that the gate to the Public Works Facility is open during business hours but locked at night.
Another concern included the actual removal of the piece of equipment, as there are stone walls on one side of the property. Rabon told Dunn he received permission to transport the grader across the abutter’s property. But Selectman Scott Violette worried about the grader being stuck between two trees.
“I just don’t want to see a tree get cut down and land on the rescue barn, and (let’s) make sure the area is cleaned up,” he said.
“He feels he can tip it on its side … and draw it right through those two trees (with a piece of equipment),” Dunn said.
Violette said the town should be told in writing that it isn’t liable for any accidents that may occur throughout the project. Resident Fred Horsefall added the abutting neighbor should agree to this as well. Dunn said she would have Rabon and the neighbor sign a hold-harmless agreement.
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