HARTFORD — The town’s attorney will review a tentative agreement between the town and a resident to use a turnaround on his private property, according to Selectmen Chair Lee Holman.

A workshop on Paul Bernier’s Camp Road property was held with Hartford selectmen on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

“It seems at this time … that he is unwilling to allow a permanent easement,” Holman said. “He is willing to agree to a five-year easement, which … may be the direction we’ve got to go.”

The issue arose in August 2015 when Bernier erected a homemade barricade around his circular driveway that RSU 10 school buses, emergency vehicles and plows have used to turn around.

He cited multiple orders of protection between his niece, her husband and their children as the reason for the barricade to keep the bus off his property. Bernier previously said he had agreements with the town in the past to use his turnaround and has allowed vehicles to use an older turnaround also on his property after putting up the barrier.

“We haven’t talked about the possibility of trying to compensate him or something,” Holman said, noting the town isn’t prepared budget-wise to do that.

But she was given authorization from the rest of the selectmen at their Thursday, Feb. 18 meeting to contact town attorney Anne Torregrossa about the tentative deal.

“Before our next meeting I want to talk to our attorney and at least let her know where this place has gone,” Holman said.

In other news, selectmen:

• accepted the only bid for curbside trash pickup from Artie’s Inc. for $38,287, the same as the current year. Costs for trash removal the next two years include $39,435 for 2017 and $40,619 for 2018, according to the draft meeting minutes. Holman said this was only bid submitted.

• approved the county tax assessment for $90,253, which is roughly $3,100 more than last year.

• approved two tax abatements, one for $651 in 2014 and one for $177 in 2015 after assessors lowered each of the property’s building values after a site visit, according to the draft minutes.

• were informed Road Commissioner Alan “Bim” McNeil will erect posted and bump signs this week.

• tabled taking any action of the personnel policy’s proposed changes, according to the minutes. Selectman Peg Poskus will contact Buckfield to get information on that town’s retirement policy.

During the phone interview with the Advertiser Democrat, Holman noted the Zadoc Long Free Library Committee still needs a Hartford resident to join it. Anyone interested can contact her at 338-2510 or Librarian Bonnie Santos at 336-2171.

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