CHESTERVILLE — Selectmen held a public hearing Thursday night on a proposal to formally reopen Adams and Gordon Hill roads for town maintenance.
Voters will decide the issue at the annual town meeting March 27.
The county stopped maintaining the roads in the 1930s, and the town voted to discontinue maintenance of Adams and Gordon Hill roads in 1976, while retaining easements on both roads. The roads reverted back to private ways.
A previous Board of Selectmen agreed to plow the roads but never brought the issue before voters for approval.
“They didn’t have the right,” Selectman Matt Welch said at the hearing.
Town officials hope the upcoming vote will remedy that, because the town is plowing the roads.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Guy Iverson said town attorney Frank Underkuffler advised the process requires property owners agree, in writing, to allow the town access to the road. Those agreements need to be accepted by voters at town meeting.
Iverson said the goal is to have the issue on the warrant for future reference. No additional taxes are involved.
Resident Kathy Gregory asked if every landowner along the roads needs to sign an agreement.
Iverson said it would be nice, but because the town has easements for both roads it’s not necessary.
“Some of the landowners live out of state,” Iverson said.
Five-hundred people in town could care less, but those living on those roads do, Gregory said. “What happens if they are voted down?”
“Vote down any request for a secret ballot,” Iverson advised. “If someone wants to vote against them, he or she should be willing to stand up and be seen.”
Resident Scott Gray asked if the wording of the articles could be amended at the meeting to include the mileage involved.
Selectman Tyler Jenness said that information is available. He also asked Road Foreman Mike Cote to get GPS coordinates for the start of the roads and the turn-arounds.
Selectman Tiffany Estabrook said each landowner should get a letter advising them of the town vote.
“We’re not asking to do anything new,” she said.
There was discussion about maintaining other town roads and extending Gordon Hill Road.
Iverson said the focus is to serve those living on these roads. “I’m open to other suggestions once this is fixed,” he said.