MINOT — Developer Chuck Starbird will have to wait a while before he receives a building permit for his property off the end of York Road.
Town Administrator Arlan Saunders told selectmen Monday that within days of hearing that Starbird had won his court case against the town, Starbird left a message with Code Enforcement Officer Ken Pratt seeking his permit.
“We decided that we need to discuss this with (town attorney) Norm Rattey,” Saunders said.
Selectmen agreed with the decision noting that, as of Monday, the town had yet to receive an official document from the courts.
“All I’ve heard, by way of an email, is the town lost,” Saunders said.
Selectman Dean Campbell pointed out that there was some question as to how many building permits Starbird might be entitled to, something that Rattey might be able to determine from his reading of the court documents.
Starbird filed for a permit May 14, 2010. Pratt determined that Starbird’s property didn’t have sufficient frontage on a town-accepted road — or a proper right of way to the town-accepted portion of York Road. It touched off a legal firestorm that ended March 6 when the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Starbird’s favor.
Rattey is expected to be back from vacation sometime this week.
“Ken ought to have a talk with Rattey before we do anything,” Campbell said.
In other business, selectmen directed Recreation Committee representative Candace Gilpatric to get specifications on the infield mix the committee wants to put on the town’s two new ball fields and to get at least one other quote on the price for some portable bleachers.
Selectmen, meeting with RSU 16 Transportation Director Tom Kelly, agreed to a proposal from RSU 16 to develop a driveway connecting the parking lot at the Minot Consolidated School with Ball Park Road. Kelly was directed to submit a letter detailing exactly what RSU 16 intends to do and what responsibilities it will assume.
Selectmen also voted to send a letter of thanks to the Poland Regional High School’s junior class for the check, in the amount of $530.93, which has been placed into the town’s General Assistance donation account.
“It is heartwarming to see the kids doing things like that,” Selectman Eda Tripp said.
Tripp noted that the money had been raised during the school’s Holiday Spirit Week in December and apportioned to funds for the needy in Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland.
Selectmen also noted that a new street light has been installed at the end of the Town Office Road. This follows March town meeting action taken on resident Hester Gilpatric’s observation that it can be difficult to find the entryway to the town office complex when traveling along Route 119 at night.
The cost for the light is $9.42 a month.
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