POLAND — Selectmen on Tuesday tabled action on a property owner’s request to have a dry hydrant installed near the Upper Range Pond boat launch, pending the settlement of a few issues.

 

Monique Collins told selectmen the Planning Board is considering her request to establish a boat storage business on her Range Hill Road property and is requiring a dry hydrant as a condition of approval.

 

Fire Chief Mark Bosse agreed that it would benefit the town to have dry hydrant in that area, but the question was how to pay for it.

 

Bosse said the town has eight dry hydrants, most of them paid for by grants. He said in recent years, the town has been requiring subdivision developers to provide water for fire suppression by building cisterns and installing dry hydrants.

 

He also said the town can apply for a matching grant that would reduce the cost to Collins and he indicated he would be willing to do so.

 

Code Enforcement Officer Nick Adams said the dry hydrant would be on state land and Collins will be required to secure an easement from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

 

In other matters, selectmen met with Peter Savas to discuss his proposed consent agreement for improvements to his property at 213 Black Island Road on Thompson Lake. The main house, driveway and boat shed are all closer to the shoreline than allowed under town ordinance.

 

Savas is proposing to move the boat shed and eliminate the driveway. In return, he is asking the town to overlook the violation of the main house and allow him to build a 10-foot addition to the sun room away from the lake.

 

Selectman Steve Robinson said it appeared Savas in general was trying to make sound environmental improvements to his property.

 

Selectmen agreed that Adams should work with Savas, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the town attorney to come up with a plan and a consent agreement for the board’s approval. 

 

Selectmen also approved an amended emergency action plan for Estes Bog Brook Dam No. 5. Situated on May Brook, sometimes called Coyne Brook, the dam, if it failed, poses a danger to a couple of dwellings and the waters could wash out Schellinger Road where the brook enters into Middle Range Pond.

 

In his report, Town Manager Bradley Plante said:

 

• Poland received a check for $16,482 as its dividend from Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp.;

 

• Poland spent about $24,000 for the demolition of the McConaghy House, well within the $30,000 budgeted; and

 

• Kudos were sent to all involved in improving the town beach on Tripp Lake. The work is 90 percent complete and plantings are scheduled for the spring.

 

Administrative Assistant Nikki Pratt reported that town office personnel are busy registering voters. About 400 people have voted early.