TURNER — The judicial settlement meeting originally scheduled for June 14 at the Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn has been moved to June 24, and may take place in Portland.

Town Manager Kurt Schaub said Monday nigh that the arbitrator has the option to choose the location of the meeting.

At issue is a SAD 52 proposal to sell a 73-acre parcel to Greene that was originally purchased by the district for a new school that was never built. Greene plans to use the land for recreation fields. Turner selectmen have objected to the $40,000 sale price. The property was obtained in 1991 for around $83,000 and is assessed by the town of Greene at $73,000.

A temporary stay, preventing the sale from going forward, is in effect.

In other business:

* Schaub reported that no one was injured in a Transfer Station fire on the morning of June 13. The fire was a result of welding work being done on a recycling container that was not empty. The heat set the contents on fire, Schaub said.

“Our Fire Department arrived and separated the container from the compacter, and Public Works assisted by using their backhoe to pull material from the full container,” Schaub said. “Andy Valley Refuse arrived shortly thereafter and was able to empty the contents of the container onto the ground so it could be fully extinguished.”

* Senior land-use planner John Maloney and land-use consultant Mike Gotto presented a request for approval of an administrative consent agreement.

Gotto spoke on behalf of Dana Turner who recently bought land on Strawberry Avenue in Turner. Division and development of the property could not be carried out because of zoning violations. Gotto said two parties are interested in purchasing two of the buildings as personal residences, but they cannot close on the properties without the change. The main problem is a 50-foot right of way that should be 60 feet wide.

Selectman Angelo Terreri moved to accept the request as written, seconded by Selectman Kevin Nichols. The measure passed 3-1-1. Voting in favor were Terreri, Nichols and Steve Maheu. Ralph Caldwell, who was concerned that the narrow private road would become a public road later, voted no. Board Chairman Kurt Youland abstained.

* Selectmen outlined the restructuring of the Public Works Department. They voted unanimously to rename the department the Turner Highway Department and appointed Leland Searles as Highway Department manager.

The new department will be composed of Searles, two full-time employees, and part-time support staff as needed. Selectmen will serve as road commissioners while the town manager will assist in Human Resources, bidding and budgeting items, and will serve in a supervisory role in the absence of the Highway Department manager.

Searles has over 20 years experience in the field and has spent the past four years as Highway Department manager of Phillips. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Jay.

Rescue Chief Lisa Bennett and Fire Chief Rodney Guptill will continue in their roles, and Ross Gagne was appointed Emergency Management director.