Our Voice : Citizens For a Better Lebanon Maine » bog road

Bog Road Poll

Glen Stadig — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:38:50 +0000

Much has been written and commented on this website about the recent discontinuance of a few tenths of a mile of Bog Road that has been maintained for 18 plus years, 71 years by some accounts. I don’t know if the Selectmen can simply reverse the decision that was passed, but certainly the “people” can…What do you think?

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Bog Road Residents Make Appeal

Glen Stadig — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:26:11 +0000

Residents of Bog Road spoke to the Selectmen asking them to appeal to common sense and do the right thing, reversing their recent decision. The Selectmen recently voted to discontinue the last two tenths of the road.

Selectmen stated the reason is the Town cannot spend taxpayer money to maintain a discontinued road, and the last two tenths were according to interpretation discontinued some time ago .

The town has maintained the entire length of the dirt road for the last 71 years or so and the portion in question is a very short segment. When questioned if the residents could get signatures for a referendum to have it maintained once again, Selectmen Churchard stated the segment would have to be brought up to “Town Standards”. This just seems to defy logic.

Residents emotionally explained concerns of access for elderly sick relatives, schools buses and additional cost to maintain. The residents were appealing to Selectmen to do the right things since there has not been any definitive evidence presented to them demonstrating the towns position. Due to the quick action taken by Selectmen the residents will now be forced to get support and fight to get the short portion re-adopted.

It would seem to me one solution would have been the Selectmen could have made a referendum for this years ballot to adopt the section of road in question (before closing it) to make the short section of road officially maintainable if there was any question of doubt.

Instead they simply discontinued it and left it to the residents.

This sounds like it could cost the town a lot of money in litigation expenses for what? Two Tenths? I understand the legal argument raised by Selectmen but with the fuzzy evidence as it is, a more amicable solution could have been found.

I don’t have all the details but my heart goes out to those families. I believe if the towns people had a say knowing the situation they would have said keep it as it is (was).

Selectmen Meeting 05/19/09

Glen Stadig — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:17:23 +0000

Meeting Highlights:

Selectmen read and signed a proclamation making this week National Emergency Medical Services Week May 17th-23rd 2009
Bob Frizzel was nominated to be Chairperson by Selectperson Churchard, vote passed unanimously.
No Bids were received for the brush clean-up project, therefore the Town will do the work. FEMA has allowed about $13,500 for the work and the same people who originally bid the work will be doing the work. The bid request made the papers on Friday of last week, but it was also posted on the MMA website and Town Website for vendors to bid.
F.R Carrol won the bid for paving for this coming year.
Boucher Construction was the only bidder for roadside mowing and won the work. It has been stipulated the Mowing is not to begin until brush clean-up work is completed.
Bog Road was discussed – The Town did grade the road all the way up, as always done, a couple weeks ago. The maintenance and plowing will end .35 of a mile up road going forward since the balance of the road has been deemed private.
Dan Stuart came to the Selectmen regarding a drainage issue he believes is caused by his neighbor and requested Selectmen take action. Selectmen declined the request since this is a private matter. The situation was looked into and Fire and Emergency equipment may pass. He was encouraged to enlist the help of his neighbors and speaking to the resident as a group or to contact Pine Tree Legal for help in getting action on the civil matter.
Attorney Glen Foy came to have paperwork re-signed for the sale of the old town hall. The original paperwork was not notarized as required. Selectmen Churchard requested the sign from the old building be returned to the town for placement inside the new town hall. The attorney also mentioned files were still in storage at the building requiring removal.
Residents are reminded that there will be services at the Old Old Town Hall on Center Road Monday at 2pm. Contact the Town for Details.
Of course there was more……

Video of the meeting may be downloaded directly here (right click “save as”) and is 191 mb and 51 min long. The Audio only MP3 file may be downloaded here 47 mb (right click “save as”). You may also view the 5 min preview below and watch the entire video online by clicking links below the preview. This link also takes you to the online video library. Official Minutes can be viewed here when available.

Watch Lebanon Maine Selectmen Meeting 05-19-09 in News | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com