Lisbon council initials updated ATV regs

LISBON – Councilors passed the first reading of an updated all-terrain vehicle ordinance during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The ordinance allows ATVs on designated roads and sets parameters on speeding, trail upkeep, driving age and penalties.

The ordinance establishes:

• ATV roadways are open from June 1 to Oct. 31;

• Annual reviews and upkeep of the ATV roadways and trails will be conducted;

• ATV drivers under 18 must have a valid driver’s license and be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old; and

• Signs will be posted along the roadways with the 10-mph speed limit.

The ordinance will be enforced by the Police Department, which will issue penalties as warranted. First violations warrant a warning, second a $50 fine, third a $100 fine and fourth and following violations are a $200 fine.

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 to further discuss the ordinance.

Councilors also discussed changing the Town Office hours to better serve employees and residents.

“This is the result of blending the needs of everybody and trying to compromise,” Finance Director Lydia Colston said.

The Town Office moved to a four-day workweek in 2014 to provide longer hours for the public and to save energy costs. The savings did not occur because the Police Department is still open and employees need to come in for meetings or other work, Colston said.

Many employees cite that the longer hours cause frustration with not being able to sustain a work-life balance, Colston said.

She suggested hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, extended to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and half-days until 12:30 p.m. Fridays.

Colston will collect data to see which days receive the most foot traffic. A final decision will be made before Dec. 1.

In other business:

• Councilors decided to reschedule their Nov. 7 meeting to Nov. 14 because of election night;

• Councilors will also hold a workshop on disaster recovery at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Town Office; and

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