STRONG — Highway Foreman Duayne Boyd warned selectmen Tuesday night that commercial and private plow drivers are creating hazardous situations for his crew and town equipment.

Some private and commercial plow truck drivers are pushing snow from driveways and yards across town roads onto snowbanks that already are too high for municipal vehicles to cut down, he said.

“We’ve got a serious issue here, and it’s gotten way out of hand,” Boyd said. “Snowbanks now are frozen solid, like rocks.”

When the heavy wet snow is pushed directly into snowbanks, the snow compresses and freezes, he said. When town plows hit the frozen snow they can break, requiring expensive repairs, which put road crews even farther behind in a heavy storm.

In previous years, selectmen have sent letters to individuals with some success, but Boyd said many ignore the warning.

“Everyone knows the law,” Selectman Bob Worthley said.

Maine law prohibits private and commercial plow drivers from plowing or dumping snow into, across or onto public roads and the municipal rights of way.

Boyd also said someone drove a skidder on a recently paved road surface and damaged it.

Selectmen encouraged Boyd to seek assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

In other matters, selectmen continued streamlining the town meeting warrant before the March 3 elections and March 4 meeting.

The new General Government Account will include administration, town charges, assessing, legal fees and code enforcement.

Another article will combine the Fire Department’s equipment, operating costs and payroll expenses.

The Public Safety Account will include ambulance service, hydrants, streetlights, animal control and insurance costs.

Each item will continue to show last year’s appropriated amount and this year’s requests. Voters will be able to question individual costs.

One new article will ask for up to $10,000 to cover unexpected expenses and emergencies without requiring a special town meeting.

Selectman Mike Pond presented a 10-year plan to repair or replace the Highway Department equipment.

One article will make the final payment on the Western Star wheeler truck, and another will ask voters to approve a lease-purchase agreement for a new backhoe, not to exceed $35,000 per year for five years, and to add $15,000 to the special equipment fund.

Worthley suggested voters would oppose spending as much money as Pond is requesting.

Selectman Rob Elliott said selectmen should consider alternatives, such as buying a quality piece of used equipment.

The Budget Committee will review selectmen’s recommendations at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Forster Memorial Building.

Selectmen will ask voters to hold the 2018 town meeting on the third Saturday in March, two weeks later than usual.

Although the town closes its financial books on Dec. 31, office manager Sandra Mitchell said many accounts aren’t finalized by the end of January. Having the extra two weeks will allow selectmen and the Budget Committee to work from final figures, rather than estimates.

Selectmen also suggest appointing — not electing — future Budget Committee members. There are several vacant seats and no one has shown any interest.

Regional School Unit 58 Director Loretta Deming has resigned, and because the deadline for filing nomination papers has passed, the position will not be on the March 3 election ballot.

Selectmen can appoint someone to fill the remaining two years of her term.

Highway Department employee Aaron Marden has resigned to accept other employment, and selectmen will advertise for his replacement.