Select Board asks property owners to show proof after locked gate blocks Shell Meeting House Road access

A resident complaint that a gate on Shell Meeting House Road off Shaker Road had been locked led the Canterbury Select Board to review past committee work and town minutes about discontinued roads and to direct staff to request documentation from the landowners who gated the way.

The Select Board discussed research by a previous road committee and lawyers that recommended treating a number of historically discontinued roads as town Class 6 roads—unmaintained but still town roads—unless a landowner can provide proof that the prior discontinuance was legally completed and properly documented. Members said they have not found town records showing required post‑vote notifications in many older discontinuance warrant articles.

Select Board members said the current town record (the committee’s 2019 recommendation and follow‑up Select Board acceptance) lists Shell Meeting House Road and similar ways as Class 6 town roads unless proven otherwise. The board asked staff to write to the property owners who installed the gate, ask them to provide proof the road is private or was lawfully discontinued and request the gate not be locked while the matter is resolved.

Road Agent John (present at the meeting) confirmed that a locked gate can impede minimal public access on a Class 6 road and noted the town has previously rebuilt features such as a stone bridge on that way. Board members said they preferred that anyone asserting private ownership present deeds or archival court records; staff will consult the state archives if necessary.

Ending — Next steps: Town staff will send a letter to the landowners asking for documentary proof of non‑town status and request the removal of the lock pending proof; staff also offered to check the archives and other records if landowners do not provide sufficient documentation.