BELGRADE — Troubled by the finish on a recently paved section of Minot Hill Road, the Board of Selectpersons accepted a promise Tuesday from the contractor to make it right and then voted 3–2 to pay contractor Mike Marriner.

The roadwork also carries a one-year guarantee, Marriner of Marriner’s Paving Inc., of Rockport, told the selectboard members at their regular meeting.

The town had requested a test of the new roadway to determine asphalt and stone content in the pavement after the work was performed five weeks ago. Those tests indicated parts of the roadway met specifications in some areas.

“No matter what these tests results are, you want a pavement that lasts out there,” Marriner said.

Marriner said some problems resulted from the pavement staying soft for a longer period because of the 95-degree heat.

Then two large trucks carrying asphalt parked on a section of road that was paved the previous day, apparently leaving large ruts in the road.

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“It’s a rough ride in the school bus ,” said Selectman Rick Damren, whose route goes on that road. He was one of two selectmen who voted against paying the bill for the work, which totaled just more than $235,000.

“I think it ought to be complete before we pay it,” he said. “We’re paying with the town taxpayers’ money, not our money.”

Board Chairman Bruce Plourd also voted against paying the bill at this point.

Marriner asked that the bill be paid, saying his creditors wanted their money as well.

Marriner will do a finish overlay on about 350 feet of road, roll the shoulders and redo the area where Minot Hill Road intersects with Route 135.

In other business, some 15 people attended the meeting, several of them trustees of the Belgrade Public Library who spoke about the process to find a new librarian.

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The current librarian, Marcia Haigh, has submitted her resignation and is taking a full-time post in Sanbornton, N.H.

Haigh asked the selectboard Tuesday to consider making the Belgrade job a full-time post with benefits, “like other department heads.” Currently the librarian works 32 hours a week and gets no benefits. “I’m leaving (for Sanbornton) because it’s a full-time position with full benefits,” said Haigh, who has been the librarian for 12 years.

Selectperson Ernest Rice objected almost immediately, saying that would need to be thoroughly researched before making any change.

Haigh also suggested the job opening could be posted through a Maine State Library website and the Maine Municipal Association.

Town Manager Gregory Gill, Selectwoman Melanie Jewell and three library trustees will interview selected candidates.

The board also learned that David Stevens was the lone bidder at $6,975 to do the earth work for the septic system and water lines at the town transfer station. Gill said Stevens will work on the project with his son, contractor Jason Stevens.

In preliminary budget discussions, the board covered wages and Social Service agency requests, but made no decisions on either.

The board was also told that a public hearing to present the draft of the updated comprehensive plan is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Center For All Seasons. The plan will be submitted to the state, and if approved there, will go before the voters at the annual Town Meeting in March.

Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com


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