MINOT — Fire ponds dominated the discussion at Monday’s selectmen meeting, as once again the board wrestled with how best to deal with the issue of their maintenance.

Fire Chief Dean Campbell has determined that two fire ponds in particular — one on Highland Drive serving a subdivision off Center Minot Hill Road, and the other at Summit Drive, off Grange Avenue — aren’t functional because they are slowly filling with sediment and weeds, and cattails are threatening to take over.

When the subdivisions were approved, it was stipulated that residents of the subdivision would form homeowners’ associations and take responsibility for upkeep of the ponds, but they haven’t been maintained.

It is questionable whether or not any homeowners’ associations have been formed or even whether the homeowners are aware of their responsibilities.

Selectman Dan Callahan asked if it made sense for the town to proceed with cleaning out the fire ponds and not worry about billing property owners as a way to save on office labor and legal expenses, which were bound to come into play.

Selectman Eda Tripp said liens would be placed on any properties whose owners refused to pay.

On the question of who determines when a fire pond needs attention and what must be done to render it functional, selectmen agreed that should to be up to the fire chief.

Campbell said he would attend the Planning Board meeting later this week to gain input into how best to handle the situation.

In other business, Town Administrator Arlan Saunders told the board that the planned replacement of the culvert on Pottle Hill Road at the Cool Brook crossing is expected to close the road for the better part of a week.

Saunders said the highway crew intends to install the twin, 8-foot diameter culverts the week of Aug. 15 and that the road will be closed for at least three days, and possibly for four or five days, depending on how the work goes.

Cool Brook crosses Pottle Hill Road a little beyond Goodwin Road.

In other action, selectmen appointed Sara Farris to serve as town clerk, tax collector and constable. Farris replaces Heidi Schreiber, who has been hired as Norway’s town clerk.