Sanford council formally recognizes LaFrancois Lane as private road after decades of city maintenance

The Sanford City Council voted Jan. 20 to formally recognize LaFrancois Lane as a private roadway after a public-works review found no deeded acceptance into the city road network.

Public works director Matt Hill told the council the roughly 800-foot road off New Dam Road has no record of formal acceptance by the city and that state and insurer guidance prohibits expenditure of public funds on private property without a legal acceptance or easement. Hill said the department had searched city minutes, deeds and York County registry records and found no evidence of transfer to the city.

"According to the city's records, this 800 foot gravel road has never been accepted by the city of Sanford," Hill said, noting the option for owners to seek acceptance by meeting the city's roadway standards and submitting documentation for legal review.

During public comment, neighbors and property representatives disputed the characterization. Cathy Charles, who gave her address as 51 LaFrancois Lane, said the road still shows old pavement and a town-style green sign and asked why residents should be required to pay for major repairs.

"I just find it unfair that people can't afford to make that a road," Charles said, asking whether the city will allow residents to patch potholes while maintenance is resolved.

Longtime resident Robert Noon said he had lived on the road for 48 years and believes the road was historically maintained by the town. He said he has photographs of the sign and questioned why the issue had not been resolved since a 1952 town meeting entry that postponed consideration.

Representatives of property owner Robins Lumber (represented at the meeting by Terry Walters) said the owners would supply survey documents and that historical maintenance had created community expectations about plowing and repairs.

Residents raised safety concerns: Eugene Dowgart, who lives at 29 LaFrancois Lane and described himself as permanently disabled, asked how he would receive emergency services or an ambulance if the city stopped routine winter plowing.

Hill said the public-works department will respond in an emergency and reiterated that the city is not proposing immediate cessation of winter services. He also said the city provided guidance to the neighborhood on forming a homeowners association and on the engineering works necessary for formal acceptance.

Council member (speaker 7) moved that the council recognize LaFrancois Lane as a private road; Anne Mundell seconded the motion. By voice vote the council approved the recognition.

The council recorded no formal numerical roll-call tally in the meeting minutes; members said the recognition is meant to clarify liability and to prompt a path for property owners who wish to pursue acceptance. Mayor Bridal said the council could reopen the matter if residents present documentary evidence of past formal acceptance.

What happens next: residents may submit deeds, surveys or other records to public works for legal review; if the documentation satisfies legal criteria the matter could be revisited. Owners who wish the road accepted are responsible for meeting the city's acceptance standards, including any required upgrades to road construction and drainage.

Proper names mentioned: LaFrancois Lane, Robins Lumber. The council's action did not itself order immediate cessation of emergency access; public-works staff said they will still respond in emergencies and encouraged residents to provide historical documents to support reconsideration.