Whitefield’s code enforcement officer was directed to notify owners of an illegal junkyard on Mills Road that they have 30 days to clean up the operation.
Arthur Strout met with the board of selectmen Monday night concerning the property known as River Run Estates where Theodore and Sarah Rideout live. The couple owns a lot where autos, junk metal, white goods and other solid waste are deposited. The problem, said Strout, is that the junkyard is within 300 feet of neighbors’ wells. Compliance with state law under those circumstances is impossible. Of primary concern is groundwater pollution by liquids issuing from dismantled automobiles, Strout said.
Board chairman Steve McCormick agreed, “We’ve got to do something.”
Strout said he could not comment on whether the property, where two other lots owned by other individuals are located, constitutes a subdivision. “That’s for the planning board,” he said. Last year Strout approved a notice to build on a back lot where there is a right of way that has never been registered.
The planning board has questioned the legality of the division based primarily on insufficient road frontage and board member Bob Bills received permission from selectmen to consult with the town attorney.
Asked to report on the state building code, which is supposed to take effect in 2012, Strout said there are “seven bills against it in the Legislature.” The law requires 12 inspections of new buildings under construction before completion, which could be very costly, Strout said.
Selectmen discussed the pros and cons of having a third party or a municipal employee conduct the inspections. Census data shows Whitefield had 101 new housing units built between 2000 and 2010. McCormick favored “hiring an employee to do, say, 20 houses a year in Whitefield. I think that’s the way to go.” Anticipating legislative revisions, McCormick said the board would “wait it out, see what happens.”
In other business, selectmen discussed illegal trash dumping at the recycling center during closed hours. The facility is open Saturday morning and items that can be dropped off are recyclables only
“It’s not cheap to get rid of rubbish,” McCormick said. “There’s quite a pile that’s getting dumped on the ground.” Rather than install a gate, the board asked Selectman Dennis Merrill to explore purchasing a motion-activated camera. McCormick said individuals caught dumping garbage would be fined for littering.
Frank Ober commented that only a small percentage of people are not using the recycling center properly.
McCormick reported that David Spicer has agreed to fill in the one-year position on the planning board. The board voted unanimously to appoint him.
Two couples whose properties have been tax-acquired arranged with the board to make payments on a regular basis.
Road commissioner David Boynton said he hoped to grade Philbrick and Hilton roads and Hollywood Boulevard by Friday. He also suggested that since there is very little sand left in the salt-sand shed “this might be a good year to clean things up” inside the building, including treating the plywood. A small building inside the shed where signs are stored also needs work. “It would be nice to have it secure,” Boynton said.
The commissioner also reported that he doesn’t have a crew for brush cutting this year. He said he’s looking for “anyone capable of running a chainsaw.” McCormick expressed concern about supervision and safety.
In dividing up selectmen’s duties now that the board has five members, McCormick said all members should be trained in general assistance. Ober said he was interested in assuming the recently vacated EMA position and, along with Sue McKeen, taking on public health duties. McCormick, Merrill and McKeen are all interested in property assessing; Merrill in exploring broadband access; Tom Colpitt and McCormick in roads.
On that topic, the chairman said there isn’t enough money in culvert replacement to justify seeking bids. The matter was raised during March town meeting.
“There’s a lot of work involved putting a $1500 job out to bid. The savings are in buying materials,” he said.
