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By Diana Bowley, Of the NEWS Staff - GREENVILLE - Selectmen agreed Wednesday that the snowmobile trail grooming program should continue under the direction of the town this winter, as long as some "tweaking" is done.Last month, some board members questioned if the town should be in the trail-grooming business. Snowmobile enthusiasts and local businessmen and women, who attended last month's meeting, urged selectmen to continue it as a municipal operation rather than privatize it to ensure a well-groomed trail network. Board members made it clear Wednesday that they recognized the value of snowmobiling to the local economy, but called for better organization. One board member still had lingering doubts that the town should be in the business. "I'm just having a hard time to believe the function of grooming is part of the town," Selectman Alan McBrierty said. "I don't have to be convinced it's important. Convince me that the town should do it." He encouraged those in the audience Wednesday to work with town officials on a solution and to provide ways to improve the program at a 10 a.m. meeting on Friday, Sept. 12, in the town office. Still, McBrierty joined the board to move forward with the program this year. A request by Selectman Bonnie DuBien to hire a part-time person to oversee the grooming program, removing that responsibility from Town Manager John Simko, was generally accepted by the board. "John does not have time for this," she said. Selectmen will ask residents at a town meeting later this year for authorization to borrow funds for a new trail groomer and to accept any grants approved for the purpose. The loan would be repaid by state snowmobile grants and donations from local businesses. It is the intention of town officials to replace the northbound trail groomer with the new machine, and use the current northbound machine on the southbound end of the trail. The remaining machine would be used as a spare. In other business, a sales pitch was made to the board from Cornerstone Communications officials who want to offer broadband Internet and data services to the community if there is enough interest from businesses and homeowners. The service will be offered if there is interest from at least 13 businesses or 84 residences, or a combination of the two. Information about the service is available in the town office. Selectmen approved a proposal from RJD Appraisal Services to do a full revaluation of the town at a cost of $89,000. Bob Duplissea, a member of the firm and the town's assessor, said the earliest the project could be done is in 2007. Permission was given to Simko to advertise the town-owned Oliver Road lot and to place the proceeds into the municipal building reserve account. A minimum bid of $40,000 will be placed on the parcel. |