In what has become a multi-year saga involving Albert Greenleaf Jr. and the town of Westport Island, a decision was made to “turn matters over to the town’s attorney” at the recent board of selectmen’s meeting on Monday, July 27.

Greenleaf has made repeated attempts to claim a section of Bakers Road by obstructing it with debris, according to selectmen; he was warned as early as 2008 that the road belongs to the town and may not be “improved or changed.”

At issue is the narrowing of the 33-foot wide road by as much as 8 feet by placing boulders, stumps, trees and old boats on what is a public way. Over the intervening years, the town says it has repeatedly directed Greenleaf to remove the barriers. Greenleaf complied with the town’s demands as they were presented, but then placed debris back in the road once the directive had been met.

A June 2 letter from attorney William Dale instructed Greenleaf to remove the debris that had again been placed on Bakers Road by noon on July 19 or face a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief, fines and attorney’s fees. Greenleaf met the recent deadline and removed the barriers; however the materials are now back where Greenleaf had previously placed them.

In a unanimous vote Monday evening, the selectmen opted to “turn the matter over to the town’s attorney for resolution.”

Name “masking”

The selectmen also discussed an option to provide name masking for Westport residents under the new interactive tax map services to be provided by CAI Technologies. Under the previous DeLorme system, Westport residents who did not wish to have their names visible on the website could opt instead to have the word “resident” appear.

CAI responded to an inquiry by a Westport resident and indicated that the same feature would be possible with their system. As a result, any Westport Island resident who would like their name masked is advised to contact Selectman Ross Norton at 207-882-6242.