GILEAD – Even though the weather feels like summer and the nights are cool, the leaves on some of trees are showing more color than last week.

My brother, Steve McLain, stopped by last Saturday and since we have quite a few tomatoes we got to share some garden produce with him while he is waiting for his tomatoes to ripen.

Lise McLain attended the Bethel Senior Club luncheon last week at the Sudbury Inn in Bethel.

Pete and Claudia Risbara dropped off some new potatoes that were just dug from their garden in Portland. 

The other day, I heard a noise and looked out to see a couple of wild turkeys running through the front yard.  The Risbara’s have seen some around their place, also.

I received a call on Sunday from Lon Dresser, who is a Gilead resident on the North Road.  He said that his son, Chandler Dresser, had just graduated from basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri and is awaiting his next assignment.  Lon attended the graduation and was very impressed with how nice the ceremony was.  Chandler is a 2018 graduate of Telstar Regional High School.

Gilead Historical Society

The GHS was open last Saturday and there were several visitors. There was even a couple from Germany who were in the area on vacation.  Two couples from Iowa stopped and had a great time taking photos of the railroad station and with ‘Pierre, the Conductor’.  A few others stopped and so did Pete and Claudia Risbara.

Town Office

The Board of Selectmen held their monthly meeting on Sept. 12 at the Town Office.  Those officers present were: two members of the select board-Steve McLain and Caro Poirier; Linsley Chapman-Town Clerk, Treasurer, Registrar; Judy Perrille-Tax Collector, Administrative Assistant; Patsy Cox-Office Assistant, Dep. Tax Collector.  Members from the public were: Alfred Leighton, Jeremy Morin, John Olson, Paul Handlen.  The third member of the select board, Byron Stevens, was still absent.  Contact with Mr. Stevens will be made to discuss his intentions.

New business discussed:  John Olson, Transfer Station Attendant, had concerns he wanted to discuss with the board regarding non-residents using Gilead’s Transfer Station and improper recycling procedures by a few people.  He also noted that people are entering the station when it is closed and the gate is locked. He requested a raise, which will be discussed by the board.  Some signs are missing from the recycling containers and Archie’s will be contacted for replacement.

Under old business:  The new safe was picked up at Tractor Supply and delivered to the Town Office by several members of the Gilead Fire Dept.  Many thanks to them for their help. This safe will be used to secure town records that are now stored in the vault at the Fire Station.  Both safes are used for storing record books.

The loan with Northeast Bank has been paid off now that the 2018 real estate taxes are being received by the Tax Collector.

October will be Judy Perrille’s last meeting, since she is retiring from the office of Tax Collector and Administrative Assistant.  The select board can appoint a replacement for both positions.  There will have to be an accounting of all 2018 real estate taxes that have been collected so far and the balance of the taxes will be re-committed to the new Tax Collector.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Caro Poirier motioned and Steve McLain seconded. Both in favor.

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