PARIS — Following the defeat of an amendment to the property maintenance ordinance at last week’s town meeting, the Board of Selectmen on Monday pondered its next step.

The ordinance, which was overwhelmingly passed by residents at a special town meeting in 2020, set a “minimum standard for the maintenance of the grounds and buildings of a property in order to protect public health, public safety and to prevent nuisance conditions.”

Town officials proposed amending some of its language to provide a clearer definition of the word nuisance.

Chairman Christopher Summers, who became code enforcement officer this year, tried to allay residents’ fears about the ordinance, saying the town isn’t going to regulate how tall the grass is in someone’s yard.

“I thought what we brought to the voters was fairly reasonable,” Summers said. “There was a lot we carved out of it to make it more Paris-friendly, so to speak. Everybody was concerned it would adversely affect them when their neighbors complain, and the code enforcement officer agrees with them.”

Summers said he was unaware of any enforcement issues since the ordinance went into effect, saying there were only perhaps two dozen letters sent to residents during the past two years with no legal action taken.

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“Our job as a CEO is to get voluntary compliance,” he said.

Town Manager Dawn Noyes noted that residents “were more concerned with what we already have on the books” than the proposed changes to clean up some of the language.

One resident suggested the board consider scrapping the entire ordinance, even though it overwhelmingly passed two years ago.

Selectman Scott McElravy appeared to lean in that direction, saying the town could consider using state statutes to address things such as dangerous buildings, health and safety issues and environmental concerns.

“I don’t like the idea of the yard police,” McElravy said.

Selectman Peter Kilgore said he wanted to hear from residents before doing anything more.

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“We should put it on hold until we can hear more from the public to give us more information on it,” Kilgore said. “They didn’t like what we’ve done; let’s hear from them. It’s foolish to hold a public hearing when only the same people come.”

A public hearing on the issue was held a month before the town meeting, but the only people who attended were the few regulars who come to board meetings.

The board agreed to leave things as they are, including keeping the ordinance as written.

Voters at the town meeting also opposed a new ordinance dealing with cost recovery for the Fire Department. It would have hired a third party to bill insurance companies, not individuals, for the time and use of equipment for a variety of incidents, including fires, accidents, rescues, train derailments and other such incidents.

Selectman Carlton Sprague thought the ordinance could have been more clearly written, since he said that many residents reportedly thought it only dealt with accidents.

The practice of cost recovery is becoming more popular in other municipalities and state agencies.

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The board agreed to table the issue and rewrite it for consideration later.

In other business, Noyes said she wanted to “clear the air” and stressed that the town has not hired two full-time employees in the Fire Department, despite published reports. The funds to hire two new employees was approved at last week’s town meeting and will be done in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Noyes noted that officials are working on the logistics.

She also reminded residents that the Town Office will close at 12:30 p.m. Thursday to close out the fiscal year. When it closes, the Fire Department and the Administration will be the only accounts over budget

“We did a great job keeping within budget this year,” Noyes said.

The Paris town sign on Route 117 is missing and will cost $850 to replace. It is the third time within a year that one of the town signs has been stolen or damaged.

Monday was the first meeting for new Selectman Mike Bailey.


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