PARIS — The town of Paris has sold the Fairview Cemetery, which it has been working on since last year.

“There is one minor step still with the Registry of Deeds that our lawyers are taking care of, besides that it’s a done deal and we’re all happy,” said Town Manager Vic Hodgkins. Paris can expect its first payment of three installments, the first of $49,500, the monies will have their own account for the town to allocate later.  The Cemetery Committee will also be meeting this Thursday morning to begin a town-wide cemetery review. 

The town has also reached out for a second estimate on the cost of upgrading Paris to LED lighting from Tanko Lighting out of San Francisco, California. Hodgkins did not publicly offer figures, having received correspondence right before the selectboard meeting, but did say that when compared to the estimated project total from Realterm Energy of $213,443, looks at first glance to be, “a better package.”  

Interest in an LED conversion has taken hold in the surrounding areas, and Hodgkins expressed that Paris enjoys, “good dialogue and working relationship between the town managers of Norway (Dennis Lajoie), Oxford (Butch Asselin) and Paris. What we’re trying to do is all get in the same place and agree to go with the same partner; to have that company come in and do a presentation to all three boards in the near future. The advantage of doing so is simple, pricing.”

The Highway Department has had an eventful season. The heavy snowfall has taken its toll on equipment and residents, according to the town manager’s report. One of the towns bucket loaders, a large piece of equipment used to lift dirt and snow to make piles, has been utilized with every snowfall. The board moved to purchase new tires last year at a cost of around $8,000.

Highway Department Director James “Jamie” Hutchinson explained that although replacement tires were purchased, the actual replacement may be tricky.  Hutchinson said that Jewell’s Tire Center, the garage servicing the loader, believes they can get the massive rims off, but are not so sure about back-together considering the presence of rust and fact that the equipment conditions won’t be fully realized until it comes apart.  To replace the wheels, Hutchinson offered figures of, “$2,229.15 a piece for wheels, totaling $8,916.”

 The loader has a few other maintenance issues, nothing that would be expected to take it out of commission, although there is a good chance it would end up benched for a couple weeks. Fortunately the town has another said Hutchinson, who reports the tires currently on the loader are, “fairly bald and are starting to hump up in the middle.” 

The board put its faith in Hutchinson’s judgment on the matter, and according to Selectman Gary Vaughn, “I would tend to take your advice on what you feel is the best way to go.” 

Hutchinson said he would chance that some of the rims will not need replaced once they’re taken apart and examined.  The board, keen on keeping the highway department unencumbered, authorized the purchase of replacement rims if necessary, and leaves open the possibility of renting one if the need persists. 

Pleased with the progressive movement on the bucket loader, Hutchinson and his staff were subjects under some public scrutiny as well.  Some mailboxes have been accidentally taken out by plows. 

The town has a right of way that extends 25 feet from the centerline of the road and a policy that if a mailbox is beyond the right of way and hit, “we’ll fix it once,” Hodgkins said. If it is in the right of way it is the policy not to do so. Hutchinson apologized on behalf of the Highway Department to any affected residents. Hodgkins suggested they take a look at Norway’s mailbox policy.

“I really like Norway’s philosophy on it, its been sitting in my inbox since the fall, we just haven’t had the issue until lately, be prepared if you’re going to start a slippery slope,” said Hodgkins

Other business

In other action, the board:

• appointed Kingston Brown, Sarah Glynn, Richard Little and Gary Vaugh  to the Marijuana Committee charged with the exploration of, “what direction the board should pursue, be that of moratorium, a specific ordinance, or no action,” according to  the Charge Statement.
• unanimously appointed Scott McElravy to a number of positions including; Planning Board alternate, Budget Committee alternate, and Economic Development alternate.  
• appointed Mike Lance, a schoolteacher with 30 years of experience, as director of the SAD 17 Board of Directors.
• noted Paris and Norway are holding a joint public hearing on Jan. 25, at 6 p.m. at the Paris Fire Station to discuss and take questions on a cable franchise renewal.  The towns are negotiating together to get better pricing, but will each have their own contracts.  Questions and comments, including those regarding changes in coverage areas, will be welcome at that hearing.

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Paris selectmen listen Monday night to comments from residents ranging from complaints over destroyed mailboxes to appreciation for snowplow drivers. (Adam Brown/Advertiser Democrat)