HARTFORD — Selectmen Thursday finalized the warrant for the January special town meeting when voters will decide if the town should accept the deed on the old schoolhouse on Church Street.

In addition to electing a moderator at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in the Hartford Town Hall, residents will decide if the old transfer station should be closed, allowing a biannual curbside pickup in order to dispose of bulky waste. 

Ownership of the old school reverted to the town under terms stipulated in 1959, when the town deeded it to the Hartford Historical and Improvement Society. The school was given to the society on condition that ownership would revert to the town if it was no longer used for its intended purpose. A warrant article will authorize funds to be spent on the building.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has demanded the closing of the town’s transfer station. After considering alternatives, such as having bulky waste collection at a specific point twice a year, selectmen decided to try the curbside pickup for a year. Hartford already has curbside pickup for household waste.

Board chairman Lee Holman discussed the disposal of the old transfer station with John Maloney of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments. He pointed out that while it might seem advantageous to get the property back on the tax rolls, in fact, selling the property to a developer would cost the town money. Services, such as schools, required by the new residents would exceed the value of taxes they pay, he said.

Maloney said that some towns have found it advantageous to keep such property as a town woodlot. This has the advantage of generating income for the town, providing open space and avoiding the cost associated with a new subdivision. Selectmen will schedule a workshop to tour the property with state forester Merrill Ring.

Selectman Jack Plumley suggested the selectmen have the option of selling the property to offset the cost anticipated for needed work on the town beach.

In other business, the Planning Board revisited an issue involving the code enforcement officer informing a resident that building repairs costing less than 50 percent of the value of the structure are allowed without a permit. The code enforcement officer told the resident that his building could be completely replaced if it was done in stages, with each stage valued at less than 50 percent.

After the resident rebuilt the building, the Maine Municipal Association advised the Planning Board that the code enforcement officer had misspoken. The CEO has informed the resident that he is in violation and needs to appear before the Planning Board. It is unclear what action, if any, the town should take.