LISBON – Selectmen are concerned about the Maine Department of Transportation’s decision to postpone its planned reconstruction of Route 9.
The board has authorized Town Manager Curtis Lunt to send a letter to MDOT asking that the project be made a “high priority.” It had been scheduled to begin in 2007, but has been “yanked off for a couple years” due to a lack of money, Lunt said.
Of the $20 million project, $8 million was to have been spent to reconstruct Route 9 in Lisbon from 196 to the Sabattus town line and the remaining in Sabattus. “It’s a dangerous road, and traffic has increased substantially” over the years, Lunt said. The accident rate, he said, is “twice as high as Route 196” and the chance of injuries due to accidents is four times higher due to trees, boulders, lack of shoulders and other conditions, he noted.
In other action, Mark Veilleux was named Deputy Fire Chief at E.T. Smith Hose Company replacing David Plummer, who has retired. Fire Chief P. Sean Galipeau was authorized to spend $11,000 for new coats, hats and boots for volunteer firefighters; $8,000 will come from the capital account and $3,000 from Fire Department revenues.
After an expected sale of the Lisbon Village Library building fell through it was decided to seek new bids, however none have been received. Selectmen have now decided to put it in the hands of a Realtor.
Lunt was directed to consult with Town Counsel Roger Theriault for guidance on making the transition from town meeting to a town council later this year. For annual town meeting aficionados there will be one more lengthy annual town meeting in May before the transition that goes into effect July 1.
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