KINGFIELD — Freeman Township resident Bob Carlton, a representative of the Opportunity Center of North Franklin County, updated selectmen Monday night on the nonprofit group’s effort to bring high-quality high-speed internet connections to western Maine.

The region doesn’t have consistent and reliable broadband service, including those places that depend on tourism, he said.

“Even in Carrabassett Valley, there are pockets of low or no signal,” he said.

Opportunity Center members have applied for grants to improve internet access for the area, and members have organized a public meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at Webster Hall to share information and meet with residents.

Carlton said his particular assignment is the Route 27 corridor, and he anticipates that all towns will be expected to make some sort of financial contribution if and when they receive outside financial assistance. The economic benefits should be worth the investment in future growth. Towns should band together in the effort, because everyone will benefit, he said.

“We think there could be more businesses that will come to this part of the county,” he said. “We need to have a representative from every town.”

In other matters, representatives from the Village Enhancement Committee offered their most recent site development plans for a small park and an access point to the Carrabassett River for canoeists and fishermen. The access point will be very modest, according to committee member John Goldfrank, and won’t require a permitting process. Adding landscaping, including a lawn, will require more permitting.

“We just have to stay 25 feet away from the high-water mark,” Goldfrank said.

The town does not offer safe and efficient river access, and visitors have little public access to the water. Although property owners have resisted allowing access across their land, the Mill Street parking lot can be paved and have lighting installed.

The timing will coincide with the Maine Department of Transportation’s rebuilding of Route 27 through the downtown in 2019. That plan, if partially funded by a grant, could reduce the cost of the original Village Enhancement Committee’s plan by approximately $15,000.

The committee noted that businesses in the northern section of town won’t be left out of the process.

Selectmen noted that the Village Enhancement Committee’s new parking lot at the southern end of town has been full, with residents using the sliding hill and walking along the river. Volunteers still are trying to adjust the lighting to prevent it from shining into area homes.

In other matters, selectmen discussed the problems the Public Works Department faces in policing the town’s sand and salt reserves. Residents are allowed to take sand for personal use, but selectmen suggested they clarify the 5-pound-per-storm limit. They decided to install security cameras and post a sign warning people that traffic is being monitored. They also are monitoring a list of vehicles making more frequent trips to the sand pile and will notify owners of those vehicles.

They also reviewed a list of roads that have maintenance issues.

“They all have holes or bumps or cracks in them,” Road Commissioner Brian Collins told selectmen. “We can’t just keep patching over them.”

Selectmen also reviewed and updated the winter parking ordinance language and penalties for parking in prohibited areas when snowplows were clearing streets.