When Westport Island resident E. Davies Allan requested the selectmen appoint a road committee at their meeting on July 29, the selectmen took no action on the request but told Allan they would take it under consideration.

After considering the request, the selectmen appointed a five-member ad-hoc road committee at their meeting Monday evening. Members appointed include: E. Davies Allan; Garry Cromwell (town road commissioner) James Cromwell; Andrew Bradford; and Roger Higgins.

Allan told the selectmen the purpose of the road committee would be for accountability and long-range planning. Allan made it very clear his request had nothing to do with the integrity of the town’s road commissioner, “Because he (Garry Cromwell) does a good job.” Allan said.

Allan also offered to serve on the committee to make engineering suggestions, which the selectmen took him up on.

First Selectman George Richardson, said the town had previously appointed an ad-hoc road committee, who also had made recommendations that were not accepted by the taxpayers.

The scope of work for the new ad-hoc road committee has not been determined as yet. However, the selectmen will review a suggested planned scope of work.

The goal of the plan is to mitigate or eliminate repair costs so that funds can be directed to road improvements, and include projections for both, short-term, 1 to 5 years, and long term, 5 to 15 years.

Another issue that may end up on the road committee’s list of items to address is a request from the town’s Fire Chief Bob Mooney – that a turnaround be established at the end of every dead-end road on the island for a fire truck to use to turn around.

New town clerk appointed

At their meeting Monday evening, the board of selectmen appointed Gaye Wagner as Westport Island’s new Town Clerk and Sandra Crehore as the Deputy Town Clerk.

The town office will be close Thursday, Sept. 27, to allow the office staff to attend a seminar on elections.

Surprised taxpayer

Westport Island land owners Alex and Aida Wasilewski were really shocked when they received their tax bill this year from the town.

Their property that was previously accessed for $64,426, was now, according to the new tax bill, accessed at over $600,000, with a bill of $4,560.

Needless to say it didn’t take the Wasilewkis long to contact the town to find out what was going on. According to the selectmen, it was a computer error and has been corrected in house.

Wright Landing Report

The committee received authorization to have the large stone at the entrance to the landing engraved with the words “Wright Landing” in four-inch lettering.

The money to pay for the engraving was raised by the Wright Landing committee from donations within the community.

Page Monument agreed to do the work for $620.

However, it was determined that the rock could not be engraved because of soft spots in the stone. The representative from Page Monument agreed to mount a marvel slab on the stone with white letters 3.75 inches high. The standard cost for this would be $750, but the monument company will only charge $620, the agreed upon price.

The town will seek a permit to keep two floats in the water at the landing all year, changing the permit for two floats, from seasonal to permanent. The remaining floats will be removed mid October.

The pine tree that was taken down during the serve storm last month has been removed, by Chris Jones, at a cost of $290. The selectmen expressed concern that the Wright Landing committee had not received authorization from the selectmen to take that action.

The Wright Landing Committee presented two bids for the removal of the tree to the selectmen at their August 13 meeting. The selectmen asked that further information be received before deciding on which bid to accept.

Wright Landing Committee Chairman Art Ballard apologized for the misunderstanding.

Other business

The selectmen received Dorothy Malone’s Tree Harvesting Plan and Review for the potential approval for the tree growth program for tax year 2013-2014.

The board appointed Selectman George Richardson to represent Westport Island as a voting delegate at the Maine Municipal Association’s annual business meeting in Augusta on October 3.

Selectman Ross Norton will be the alternate delegate, in the event that Richardson is unable to attend.

The selectmen signed a new contract with Wiscasset Transfer Station. The change in the contract related to adding the fee schedule which was not included in the previous contract.

The selectmen sent a letter to Richard Colby, who requested abatement on his Rum Cove property, suggesting two dates for an abatement hearing. The proposed dates are October 6 or October 13.

The next selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 24.