DENMARK — The Select Board has approved a plan to formally abandon roads identified as discontinued, following recommendations from the town attorney and town manager.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the town attorney outlined the legal process under state law, and Town Manager Betty LeGoff presented supporting documents, including an old highway plan, an attorney’s memorandum and updated Maine Department of Transportation maps.
No one objected, and the board unanimously approved the plan to abandon the roads under the terms outlined by the Abandoned and Discontinued Roads Commission.
LeGoff said she will arrange for release deeds to be prepared and filed with the Oxford County Registry of Deeds.
The board also held its annual public hearing on the town’s general assistance ordinance, which sets maximum aid levels based on figures provided by the state. No one commented, and the board adopted the updated ordinance as submitted.
The board discussed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s updated floodplain maps, known as flood insurance rate maps, which help assess flood risk. LeGoff said she was frustrated with FEMA’s rollout of the maps and had to manually extract 17 maps for Denmark from a large regional file. She said she will share the maps with the board for review.
The deadline for public comment on the updated maps is Oct. 16.
The board approved a five-year games of chance license for the Denmark Draggers Snowmobile Club. Members clarified that the organization needs to provide the town with a schedule for recurring events, such as weekly bingo, rather than check in before each game night. The board reviewed a similar letter for the Denmark Art Center’s liquor license but postponed final approval.
The board heard a proposal to make the transfer station a PaintCare drop-off site. PaintCare, a nonprofit that operates paint recycling programs on behalf of paint companies, partners with retailers and household hazardous waste facilities to accept leftover paint. The program offers residents a free way to drop off paint and helps keep it out of municipal dumpsters.
LeGoff said she is working with PaintCare to address questions about liability, hazardous waste and training.
LeGoff told the board she had drafted a sex offender community notification policy because the town does not have one and had sent it to the town attorney for review.
The town received its proposed 2027 state valuation of $672,300, an increase of $62,750. The board said it will ask the assessor whether to appeal before the Nov. 15 deadline.
During the time reserved for public comment, Kelly Carusis spoke on behalf of her mother, Sharon Nagel, who owns the property at 83 West Main St. Carusis asked for more time to complete mandated cleanup work already underway.
The town ordered the property owner to demolish and remove a garage and mobile home and clear debris and other materials, including petroleum products, automotive fluids and other hazardous materials. Power to the building has been disconnected.
The board extended the deadline to Oct. 31, with a site inspection to follow. If the work is not completed by then, officials said the town will hire a contractor and seek to recover the costs in court.
