Construction targeted by Otisfield selectmen

OTISFIELD -Real estate and its uses dominated the selectmen's meeting November 17.

Code Officer Richard St. John was given the selectmen's unanimous support for a stop-work order on a Bolsters Mill Road property.

St. John said he noticed there was construction taking place at 266 Bolsters Mill Road, for which he knew there was no permit. On checking back a few days later, he verified that work was being done because of progress on the construction. Therefore, he prepared a statement ordering the owners, Kenneth and Barbara Remington, of Windham, to halt work immediately.

St. John pointed out that the penalty for non-compliance with the order could be between $100 and $2,500 per day until the work that has been completed so far has been removed or brought into line with the applicable building codes and, in this case, an after-the-fact application is filed.

Members of the Save Saturday Pond Committee approached the board asking for support for the effort the group is making to ban motorboats above 75 horsepower on the pond.

Citing ecological damage and public safety concerns, George Lobb and Barry Vail described problems arising from boats with motors of 250 or more horsepower. The selectmen unanimously agreed, when it was explained that it would cost the town nothing, but the approval of the selectmen would be a key element in asking the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for a public hearing on such a ban.

Persistence paid off for selectmen trying to sell a tax-aquired property on the Crooked River.

The small property, only one third of an acre, was taken by the town after the owners died, and the heirs indicated that they were not going to clear up the back taxes. Noting that there was little that could be done with the lot, because of Shorelands zoning restrictions and other considerations, it had been offered for sale twice, with a minimum bid of $20,000 required. Twice it was advertised with no responses. But the third time, the minimum was lowered to $15,000 and three bidders submitted offers, the highest of which was for $20,100.

Also unloaded was the old stove from the Community Hall, removed during the recent renovations. It has been claimed, said Administrative Assistant Marianne Izzo-Morin, but will likely not be removed until spring. It had originally advertised for sale at $100, but selectmen reduced the price out of existence, asking only if someone would just take it away.