Dresden selectmen and gravel pit owner Heather Beasley on Tuesday night spoke again about Ballard Road. Earlier Tuesday, Beasley said she placed “No Trespassing" signs blocking off the entrance to the road that leads to her pit.

‘My lawyer said to block it off,” said Beasley. 

The board sent a stop work order to Beasley July 23, and on Aug. 6 warned of a $250 fine per day if Beasley continued to extract gravel from the pit. “The Ballard Road has been closed off and she can’t do that,” said Selectman Allan Moeller Sr. Beasley has claimed ownership of the road leading to the pit based on colonial era grants. Selectmen have hired historian Jay Robbins to research the question.

Selectman Trudy Foss ended the discussion, saying town attorney Jessica Avery had instructed the board not to publicly debate the situation. The board met with Robbins in executive session after the meeting.

Also Tuesday, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Rand Maker answered questions posed by residents, including questions about patrols, drugs and response times. Maker said officers have responded to 485 calls to Dresden since January; 175 were property checks. He said the drug problem is widespread throughout the county. He said out-of-state dealers tend to be transient so are difficult to pin down. A sheriff’s detective is assigned to drug enforcement cases. The department works with other drug enforcement agencies, he said. 

Maker said patrols operate in three districts. It can take time to respond if the officer on duty is at the other end of the district. He said the department is shorthanded at present. “Speeding is the number one complaint we get,” said Maker. He said the computerized speed signs help monitor traffic conditions. The signs can record speeding data so officers can patrol the worst locations. 

In other business, the board referred to the planning board a recommendation from code officer James Valley that owners of new small structures pay a fee to ensure they are within the 20-foot setback from property lines. “I am against it. Leave it as it is,” said Selectman Gerald Lilly.

The board will seek a licensed assessor to help with future property assessment reviews. Moeller said the board had set aside $7,500 each year for the purpose but never used it since Foss had done the job for years.

The board agreed to spend $1,200 for town office computer software to simplify handling of credit card charges.

The board meets next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Powalborough Hall to set the property tax rate.