WATERFORD — Dale McAllister approached the board on behalf of the ATV club regarding part of a trail being blocked by a logging operation. The board granted alternate ATV access on Sawin Hill Road for up to a mile with speeds posted, interim, until end of season (through 12/31/21).

There was also discussion about a complaint which had been made on Green Road. Selectman Todd Sawyer stated that he had sent a letter of acknowledgement and the concerns were shared with the ATV club. McAllister said that they will increase signage for that.

There was a Commons use request for the Farmers Market which was granted.

Assessing Agent John Bell reported that Henry Howard was willing to accept the town’s abatement settlement proposal of $471. Sawyer stated that it was important to note that Howard had been working with Bell during the last year to resolve the mistake which led to over payment of taxes for the last 15 years.

The mistake has now been corrected and that is the extent that the Board of Assessors is allowed to do in their role as assessors. The board voted to give a grant to the Henry Howard Irrevocable Trust $30,000 in value ($471, based on the mil rate) in order to settle the abatement issue.

An informational meeting was held for town employees with MMA Health. Betty Becker said that she would check with the Aflac representative about returning to talk with employees as well. Board would have to vote to change the policy in order to add vision or disability coverage. Becker will ask the MMA representative to come back every year shortly before the open enrollment period to help employees know what they have before updating their coverage.

At the last meeting on April 12, Sawyer had brought two bid packages to the board for posting, due by 5 and 6:30 p.m., respectively, on April 26, one for a 1995 plow truck, and one for a tax-acquired property. A motion was made to accept the highest bids, $4,000, for the plow truck from Charlie McDonald; and $14,334 for the property, bid by Richard Morse.

The Select Board retained the winning bid checks and returned the others. The Purchase and Sales Agreements are the next step and will be drawn up by the town’s attorney.

There was a request heard for ball field use by a family for an event; Stipend Rec Director Pat Lawler said that there are currently no plans to use the field on the requested date.  Sawyer noted some questions regarding this use and what the policy is. He said that when the Commons or Werner Park is used, insurance is required. Select Board members collectively decided that they would answer the request with the following: the ball field can be used at your own risk, but the Select Board cannot grant exclusive rights to one party for private use. There are no issues with public use and no restrictions, but leave it the way you found it – or better.

Bear Mountain Music Hall will again be on the agenda for the May 10 meeting for final approval of her contingency plan to use Werner Park for music events if needed due to the limitations of social distancing.

At the last meeting, selectmen received a request for Bingo to be permitted as a fundraiser for Short Folks for Hope, a local cancer support charity, to be held for campers at Papoose Pond Campground exclusively on Saturdays in July, August and September. It was granted.

John Bell, code enforcement officer, presented amendments noting that the C.E.O. does not have express authority to enforce corrective action when a structure is deemed ‘dangerous’ or in enforcing licensing ‘junkyards’ and ‘automobile graveyards’ every year and automobile recycling businesses every 5 years. The board decided that this responsibility be delegated to the C.E.O.

Sawyer noted that Central Maine Power will be swapping out street lamp light bulbs to new energy-efficient LED bulbs, but no start date has been provided.

There were questions from the public: what is happening with the “Free tent” at the transfer station since the tent was damaged? Sawyer stated that they are working on a promising roofing solution. The other question was in regard to the specific ditching and culvert digging planned with certain equipment. Sawyer also answered to that: he said that they will need to get bids for a very specific piece of equipment that Waterford does not own and an operator for that equipment for a certain period of time in order to complete some of the road work planned. Bid packages for that are being drafted.

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