STRONG — Selectmen met with the chairwoman of the town park committee Tuesday to clear the air and plan the shared responsibility for the town-owned property.

Susan Ellsworth, chairwoman of the committee of park volunteers, attended the meeting to protest the recent publicity that she said caused her significant emotional distress.

Board Chairman Jim Burrill also read a letter from Perry Ellsworth, Sue’s husband, who could not attend the meeting but supported his wife’s work.

Ellsworth accused Burrill of lying to her. She knew an insurance agent had inspected the park, she said, but no one had ever come from the insurance company in the past 22 years it had been open.

“You told me that you didn’t authorize (Selectman) Dickie (Worthley) to go to the insurance company,” she told Burrill.

Burrill said that had been a private discussion with Worthley and not a decision of the selectmen at a meeting.

Ellsworth did acknowledge that she told Selectman Rob Elliott that she had taken care of the maintenance issues, but she said she hadn’t explained to him that her carpenter, Josh Bachelder, couldn’t complete all of the work before the next selectmen meeting.

Burrill told her that selectmen wanted to keep the park open, but they couldn’t take the chance that the work wouldn’t be completed in a timely fashion.

The town park was started more than two decades ago, and taxpayers “had in the back of their minds” they weren’t going to be obligated to pay to support it, according to former selectman and park supporter Rebecca Croteau.

“Times have changed,” she said.

In the past several years, the voters have approved an average of $1,500 per year for the park. Ellsworth said that pays for expenses such as Porta-Potties and electricity, and all other expenses come from fundraising, grants and donations. The park also is a destination for residents in other towns, and people have held weddings, birthday parties and other social events there. It’s an asset that gets little appreciation or support, she told them.

Selectman Mike Pond suggested that the volunteers and selectmen address the issues of anticipated costs, volunteer work and town ownership. The park was a valuable asset, and the townspeople should be willing to pay more if needed to preserve the area.

Pond suggested that she and her volunteers arrange a separate public meeting, and he and Elliott agreed to meet with park volunteers to discuss plans for the future.

“We want to keep it as insurance-safe as we can, but live within your means,” Pond said.

Ellsworth also suggested that the Village Cemetery needed much more work than the park. She said Selectman Dick Worthley should look into some of the leaning stones that could fall and hurt children, as had happened to a 6-year-old relative of hers 12 years ago.

Worthley replied that he has been searching for a qualified cemetery stone worker and has been communicating with the Maine Old Cemetery Association.

In other business, Pond reported the town received $12,000 from the sale of an old town truck. The money will go into the town’s equipment reserve account.