Board moves to help on SAD 68 bus stop Selectmen OK turnaround if needed

DOVER-FOXCROFT – Selectmen Monday agreed they have no authority to regulate a school bus route or to determine whether a school bus stop is safe. They did agree, however, to widen a driveway entrance for a possible bus turnaround on Atkinson Road.

Several parents of children on Atkinson Road met with town officials hoping to get a resolution to what they say is a safety issue. As they did earlier this month before the SAD 68 school board, the parents expressed concern about the safety of their children who either stand beside the road or wait for the bus in private vehicles near a curve at the intersection of Route 15 and Atkinson Road.

They said the parents who choose to take their children to the intersection often congest Atkinson Road with their vehicles, which also could lead to an accident.

The parents hoped to convince town officials and school board members that the bus stop should be moved off busy Route 15 and onto Atkinson Road.

Selectmen agreed to widen the driveway entrance to Jim Ellis’ home on Atkinson Road for a turnaround, should school directors choose to move the bus stop. The parents plan to return to the school board in January to seek support for the change.

In other business, a public hearing was set for Jan 12 on a $100,000 grant awarded to Center Theater for renovation work. Theater directors had sought $500,000 from the Municipal Investment Trust Fund but received $100,000. A special town meeting will be held on Jan. 26 to accept the grant.

The board also awarded a contract to FASTCO of Lincoln to supply an influent screen for the wastewater treatment system at a cost of $96,050. The screen will separate solids before the wastewater goes into the lagoons. The board wants the screen in place before the lagoons are cleaned so the sludge will be more valuable. Pratt said the screen should save the town money in the long term.