PARIS — The Select Board voted Monday to split the contract to remove dead trees from town cemeteries between Rice Tree Service and Webster Tree Service.
It will save the town about $10,000, Chairman Christopher Summers said.
Rice Tree Service of Waterford will remove two trees from Streaked Mountain Cemetery and three trees from Daniels Cemetery. Arborist Sheldon Rice said he would need to work with Central Maine Power for a protective cover on the wires or a temporary outage for the safe removal of the trees at the Daniels site on Stock Farm Road.
Webster Tree Service of Auburn would remove trees from the remaining town cemeteries, except Fairview Cemetery on East Oxford Road. Town Manager Dawn Noyes noted that an oak tree planned for removal at Fairview is not dead, as first thought. Town officials will reassess the needs of that cemetery next year.
Webster will need to rent a crane to complete its work.
In other business, the board approved a code of conduct for visitors to the Town Office, following a few tirades and bullying incidents directed at town office staff. Noyes said in one recent incident that a person berated one of the office workers for more than a half hour.
The new policy forbids threatening, abusive behavior and profanity. Individuals who do not follow the policy will be asked to leave and will need an appointment to return to the office.
The town’s tax rate for the coming year will be $16.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, an increase of $1.25, Noyes said. Tax bills were mailed Monday.
The Town Office will be closed Friday for a workshop on verbal judo, which teaches people nonconfrontational ways to keep people calm and deescalate tense situations. It will be held at the Fire Station on Western Avenue.
The annual Founder’s Day celebration is scheduled Saturday on Paris Hill. Activities include a tour of Bob Bahre’s antique and classic car collection. It’s housed at the birthplace of Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s vice president during the Civil War. The collection of more than 50 cars is open only one day a year. The cost is $10 per person and $2 for children younger than 12. Proceeds benefit the Hamlin Memorial Library and Museum.
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