BUCKFIELD – Town Manager Glen Holmes reported that a Jan. 2 court date has been set to determine boundary lines on Roger Bennett’s property. The town plans to put guardrails on the railroad bed trail, and Bennett and the town differ on where that property line lies.

The new Buckfield Rescue ambulance has already been on three calls since it arrived on Nov. 14, Holmes said.

He also announced a public meeting on the 2007 budget to be held Jan. 23. He encourages all interested residents to attend. The town will be discussing the possibility of a new fire station, parks, the school budget and what vision the people have for the town.

Buckfield: Task force reports

BUCKFIELD – After three months of research, Buckfield’s water task force has recommended that the Buckfield Village Corporation pay its debt itself and through its users.

The corporation has about 170 customers and owes more than $1 million, some of it from construction of a filtration plant for the North Pond water supply and from a $525,000 bond to replace a water line on Depot and Turner streets.

The task force also recommended:

• the town take on no additional debt other than the 30 percent they already pay;

• the corporation provide a simple explanation of how the debt was incurred with a detailed breakdown of the financial implications for all households it serves;

• the corporation detail its water plan to the entire town in the future; and

• the corporation take advantage of grants and resources available for such purposes, without financial support from the town.

Buckfield: SAD 39 test scores studied

BUCKFIELD – Buckfield High School Principal Don Reiter reported to SAD 39 directors recently that sophomores taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test in 2005 had better scores than those taking the test in 2004.

Scores for juniors who took the test in 2005 are significantly lower than the state average, however. Superintendent Rick Colpitts said educators are reviewing data to see how many seniors took any SAT preparation classes and how many of the students were in special needs classes. All students are required to take the test.

Improved reading scores across the different assessments show that the literacy efforts being made in the classroom are working, and the school should continue these efforts, Reiter said.

Colpitts also reported that Bailey Graffam has been hired to teach the fourth grade at the elementary school after Sherry Woodcock retired.

Kimberly Kangas was approved as a volunteer assistant girls varsity basketball coach and Kathy Saarinen was approved to be a volunteer assistant girls basketball coach for the middle school.

Hartford: EMA director shared by three

HARTFORD – Selectmen voted to use Sumner’s emergency management agency director to cover their town. Bob Calawa will serve as deputy director. The board agreed that it made sense to use one director for Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford because they are all a part of SAD 39 and share schools.

Judy Hamilton announced public hearings on the town’s comprehensive plan start Jan. 24.

Selectmen also agreed to grant a leave of absence to Dan Maddox from the comprehensive plan committee and the Planning Board.

The town’s sand and salt shed is making fast progress with the laminated arches already in place, Chairman David Bowen said.