Turner board seeking planning committee members

TURNER — Selectmen are seeking nine to 11 townspeople who represent a cross-section of the community to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee.

Members will have the opportunity to “listen and discuss goals and objectives for the town,” Town Manager Kurt Schaub said Monday night.

Appointments will be made by the Board of Selectmen. Interested residents should send an email to manager@megalink.net stating why they would like to serve. Residents of Turner voted to update the plan at last year’s annual town meeting.

In other business, Schaub’s report to the board revealed that the field work for the annual audit is nearly complete.

“The essential financial component was done during the summer, so little if any change is anticipated in the fund balance,” Schaub said.

The board reviewed and approved the contract proposed by the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments listing Shelley Norton as the new planner. Outgoing planner John Maloney will assist Norton as needed as she comes up to speed with the town’s ordinances. The hourly rate is $10 per hour less than the expired contract.

Board Chairman Kurt Youland has been working on several ordinance amendments intended to streamline current processes and will present suggestions at the May 2018 town meeting. Selectmen spent a good deal of time discussing the proposals and will seek a joint meeting with the Planning Board to review the items.

Turner entered into the world of social media with the launch of its Facebook page on Nov. 22, at the request of the selectmen. The page has 72 followers, and counting, and is intended to keep residents informed of pertinent news and events.

Visitors to the page can make comments, send messages and rate the town on a scale of one to five stars by clicking the link, “Share your opinion about Town of Turner!” Thus far, the town has an average rating of 4.7 stars.

The Planning Board will meet Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.

The next selectmen meeting will be held at the Town Office on Monday, Dec. 18.