Board of Selectmen Meeting, June 16, 2025
There’s a job opening for Land Use Clerk. It’s part time, averaging 20 hours per week, requiring some evening hours.
Parks & Recreation has moved into its newly renovated space at Town Hall.
The outdoor mural at the Community Center has been completed.
All Seasons Landscaping has refreshed the landscaping in the strip of land between 152 and the Community Center parking lot.
The board discussed properties acquired by tax deed. The town has several that it has held on to for 3 years in a now-failed attempt to get the back taxes paid. Standard procedure is now to put them up for sale. Some are very small and not buildable.
Several companies inspected the Recycling Center in order to bid on painting it. They noted that the siding was decaying and in rough shape. A questionably secured wall in the area used to store plastic was also noted. None submitted bids. The Director of Public Works will be inspecting the building to propose repairs. Selectman Shirland suggested putting vinyl siding on the building.
The board held a second public hearing on proposed changes to the parking ordinance. Public input was received. One person wanted $100. Another $25 to $50. There was considerable discussion about whether out of towners finding that the state park beach is closed would consider a $25 fine to be about the same as the park entry fee and not care about it. It was questioned whether such people could find Town Beach. Selectmen Fyfe and Decker spoke in favor of a $100 fine. The final vote was 4 to 1 in favor, with Selectman Welsh opposing.
A citizen mentioned that some kids at the beach disobeyed the attendant about walking on the dam. The attendant called the police. The kids have been suspended from the beach for a year.
The Director of Parks & Recreation discussed possible improvements to Marston Fields and the availability of matching grants for such improvements. She asked for the board’s approval to spend $4k on surveying and a design so that the department could apply for these grants for future improvements.
The board amended its purchasing policy to increase the amount of spending for which board approval must be obtained to $15k.
The board discussed the rules for Town Beach, in particular antiquated rules for back when the beach used to have a lifeguard on duty. The new rules will be updated on the town’s website.
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