Public hearing Nov. 20 on new ATV access in Greenville

    GREENVILLE — The Greenville Board of Selectmen voted last week to hold a public hearing Wednesday, Nov. 20 on a request to create more all-terrain vehicle (ATV) access in the community.

    Moosehead ATV Club President Ken Snowden requested that selectmen consider creating an ATV access road along Lily Bay Road – pending approval by the Maine Department of Transportation – and Scammon Road, connecting Foss Street to the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club.
    Snowden also requested that the town open the main intersection of Lily Bay Road and Pritham Avenue to ATV traffic. Currently, ATVs are only allowed on Pritham Avenue between Greenville Junction and the parking area behind Flatlander’s Restaurant and Jamieson’s Store between 8:30 a.m. and dusk.
    According to minutes of the meeting, a significant amount of discussion about these requests and the poor condition of the trail between Foss Street and the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Clubhouse on Scammon Road was heard. Also, the damage that ATV traffic has caused to private land along this trail was also brought up along with suggestions on ways the damage can be repaired.
    A motion was made by Richard Peat, seconded by Bruce Wyman, to hold a public hearing on these two ATV access route requests at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the municipal building meeting hall, to advertise the hearing in the usual manner and to send notice of the session to all abutting landowners along this section of road. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1 with Selectman Bonnie DuBien opposed.
    The Greenville Board of Selectmen also heard a report from Code Enforcement Officer Jack Hart and Airport Advisory Committee Chairman Joe Morrissey on recommendations for updating the committee.
    The Board of Selectmen expressed unanimous support for these changes, and is expected to vote on the new roster with terms of appointment at a future meeting, following review and recommendations by the Airport Advisory Committee.
    Town Manager John Simko reported that with help from Ken Woodbury of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Committee, the town now has details on how to apply for Project Canopy funds to hire a licensed professional forester to conduct a management plan for the town wood lot, if the board chooses to do so.
    Based on a report by State Forester Gordon Moore, Simko recommended that the board not authorize a harvest at this time, but rather seek to have a management plan done to make future cuts more predictable and profitable.
    The board agreed in concept to the town pursuing a Project Canopy grant to fund the development of a forest management plan for the town’s woodlot, and to engage forester Kirby Ellis, who had assisted Moore on his evaluation of the lot.
    Simko will work out details on the grant proposal with Woodbury and return with these details at the Nov. 20 meeting.
    Project Canopy is administered by the Maine Forest Service that helps communities develop long-term tree programs and maximizes the benefits that trees and forests provide.
    Simko also reported that the Greenville Fire Department checked and cleaned over 100 chimneys during a five-week period, all through volunteer efforts.  The town manager, who is also a firefighter, noted that the cleaning program cuts down significantly on chimney fires in the winter months, and adds hands-on training for the department’s members.
    Work continues to secure the necessary funding for a replacement for the department’s current rescue van. Chief Gavin Oelschlegel plans to brief the board of selectmen on these efforts at their next meeting.