Dresden Selectmen decided on Monday, Oct. 5, to table attempts to seek state approval for the comprehensive town plan ratified by voters on June 13.

Comprehensive plan chairman Dave Probert said that re-examination of building starts for the decade ending in 2014 revealed that the town would still not qualify for an exemption to the requirement to define a growth district within the town.

Administrative assistant Trudy Foss said that there were only 55 building starts in the previous decade but the requirement for the exemption was 50 or fewer.

"I will see if 50 is set in concrete," said Probert.

Selectman Dale Hinote said he would prefer to let the current plan serve the town’s interest without getting the state’s stamp of approval. Without the state signing off on the plan, the town could become ineligible for certain grants.

"For the time being we are doing OK,” said Hinote.

Other business

Selectmen agreed to invite Bath attorney Jessica Avery to the board meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, to discuss issues surrounding the development of a gravel pit by contractor Dick Condon.

Hinote said that planning board chairman Jeff Pierce appeared to be taking a slow approach to dealing with Condon who allegedly violated a stop work order issued on Aug. 24. Hinote said that he believed that Condon had not yet filed a completed application to the planning board.

“We should do it carefully," said Hinote.

The board accepted a $91,478 paving bid from State Paving Inc. of Farmingdale for work to be done on Call’s Hill Road. Selectman Allan Moeller said he expected work to begin this week.

The board reported that 48 new plastic totes had been purchased for the swap shop at the transfer station.

"There are a happy bunch of people in solid waste," said Moeller.

Selectman Gerald Lilly reported that Lincoln County no longer recycles electronic waste but that he had found a private contractor who will. The board tentatively set Saturday, Oct. 24, for residents to bring electronic items to the transfer state for disposal.