Damage from trucks associated with a Mount Hunger Road gravel pit have made the road impassible to emergency vehicles, Edgecomb selectmen and Road Commissioner Scott Griffin said December 4.

In an emergency meeting, selectmen authorized Griffin to post that road and nearby Dodge Road for weight limits through May 15, 2014. If this sounds familiar, the last time the board put weight limits on Mount Hunger Road, the pit's then-owner Karen Smith sued the town. She and selectmen settled after selectmen learned their insurance did not protect them personally from having to pay Smith if they lost in court.

This time is different, Selectman Stuart Smith said. In response to a question after Wednesday's meeting, he said the prior postings were in error because they were for a full year. These end in May so there is not that problem, he said.

During the meeting, Griffin and board chairman Jack Sarmanian recounted this week's events they said led to the action.

Griffin said he checked out Mount Hunger Road after a resident, Jim Cunningham, told him the trucks from the pit were damaging the road. Griffin also contacted Fire Chief Roy Potter out of concern about emergency vehicles' access.

Griffin said he considered the situation an emergency and posted the road. Sarmanian said he then checked with town attorney Bill Dale, who advised him the signs could stay if the board authorized them.

That's what Sarmanian and Stuart Smith did Wednesday. Selectman Jessica Chubbuck was not at the meeting.

The officials also discussed some stone material Griffin said the pit's owner Mark Hanley laid down after being told about the new issues with the road. Hanley did not ask permission to work on the road, the officials said.

Hanley was not at Wednesday's meeting; he was informed it would be taking place, Sarmanian said.

Griffin said he will likely have Hanley do some emergency work so the road can be plowed and emergency vehicles can get through. More work may be needed in the spring, he said.

Asked later about the road damage Griffin had described, Hanley said one of his workers was doing something that he hadn't known the worker was doing.

“It's a mistake that's being rectified,” Hanley said. He declined further comment.