Bethel’s Summerfest parade rolls down Main Street on June 21. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen

BETHEL —  A road closure application for a Bethel Area Business Association (BABA) community festival, “Molly Ockett Day” on Aug. 9 was discussed at an April 2 select board meeting at the Bethel Town Office.

Danny Whitney representing BABA was asked to return to the board with more detailed safety specifications.

“There will be a parade up Main Street. We’re looking to close Main as they have done in the past. We would like to close a portion of Broad Street between the library and Mason Street.” He added that the Oxford County Sherriff’s department will be there with extra patrol and Maine DOT.

Select Board member Sarah Southam asked for a map of the barricades and signage. Whitney said they would lean on the sheriff’s department and fire department for help with planning. “We have extra volunteers to help with barricades,” he said. Member Frank Del Duca said it sounded like a public safety issue. Board Chair Michelle Cole said, “I think we want to have a partnership.”

Public Works Department Director Scott Sumner said in the past his men have put the barricades out, then taken them back Monday morning. Southam was reassured that town workers would not be paid extra.

The Board approved a Gould Academy May 31 event that would block part of Church Street and a Road Closure Application for the Bethel Rotary and Mahoosuc Kids Association youth run.

Other business

The Hazardous Waste Day will be Saturday, Sept 6,  9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Bethel Public Works Garage, 39 Davis Road.

A bid for Bethel Airport improvements including a taxi lane project was published in the Portland Press Herald on April 4, 2025.

Sumner said the construction company repairing the sand dome at the Highway Department is anticipating six weeks of work.

Ballot clerks were approved for the June 10 town election.

Town Clerk Jessicca Grover has resigned effective April 11. She is the fourteenth Town of Bethel employee to resign in the last three years.

The Board voted against a raise for themselves. The select board members’ stipend is $1,612 annually. Town Manager Sharon Jackson said the stipend amount was low. She said she receives $2,400 annually for her role as select board member in Oxford.

The Board voted to keep members of the Assessor’s Board stipend the same. The School Board Director’s town stipends will remain the same, too. School Board directors are also paid by the district, as was noted by Cole and Jackson.

The Planning Board recently requested a stipend. Jackson suggested $25. per meeting if the member attended the meeting, with a budget not to exceed $4,200. The amount was approved by The Board.

The animal control officer and recreation director’s stipends will increase 3%.

The fire chief’s current stipend is $10,000. Jackson recommended raising it to $15,000 because of the administrative work required.

The airport coordinator’s salary is $9,700. Jackson proposed increasing the stipend to $18,500. She said his job description has changed, “he is there seven days a week.”

A full video of the meeting by Western Hills Maine Access Television (W.H.A.T.) can be viewed here: https://w2pcms.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=41795182&action=edit