On Monday night, Antrim Select Board members decided to bring a petition to a public hearing regarding taking over care and maintenance of two private roads -- Mulhall Farm Road and Commercial Drive.

The connected roads are located in a subdivision off Route 202, and the residents are currently responsible for road maintenance.

Board members decided to require a site walk of the roads and discussed with Road Agent Jim Plourde what would go into betterment of the roads. Plourde said if the town were to pave them, they would want to crack seal and chip seal the roads within 10 years to keep the asphalt in good shape.

“I always think it’s better to have residents do their own work and we accept it,” said Selectman Bob Edwards. 

Board Vice Chair Donna Hanson said, “I agree, but that’s not what we’ve done in the past.”

Edwards asked that the board accept the petition to go to a public hearing, while specifying that they were not accepting the specific language used in the petition. The board agreed to accept it without accepting the language.

In another matter, Joan Gorga sought the board’s permission for the Recreation Commission to apply for a municipal boat launch grant that could provide up to 75 percent of funding or $100,000 toward a project to repair the boat launch at Gregg Lake. 

“The stipulation is the project has to be done by the end of July next year,” said Gorga. 

Gorga said the current boat launch is in “sad shape,” that it’s eroding and with a shallower lake it’s harder to maneuver boats. She said they have been looking into options such as permeable pavers, pouring concrete or a metal grid.

“The DES (Department of Environmental Services) recommends doing everything as permeable as possible,” Gorga said.

If they receive the grant, the commission hopes to put a warrant article on the ballot next spring asking the town to raise the remainder of the project cost. 

The Select Board agreed to write a letter of support that will allow the Recreation Commission to apply for the grant. 

Planning Board Chair Mark Murdough spoke about a workshop his board recently held to prepare for the Community Vision Event on Friday, April 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to noon. The town hopes to receive input that will help the Planning Board update the master plan. 

The conversation turned to pedestrian crosswalks on Main Street. 

“The goal, I think, is to have actuated signs,” said Planning Board Vice Chair John Anderson, “We’ve had two pedestrian accidents on Main Street.” 

Lighted crosswalks and petitioning the state to reduce the speed limit were also discussed. 

“The idea is we’re trying to entertain all options,” said Murdough.

Michael Ott is the board’s new chair, with Hanson as vice chair. 

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