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Selectmen press resident on drainage easement and urge private solution for OBD pipe
Summary
Resident Penn Rhodeen asked the Selectmen about running his OBD discharge through a town culvert. The board expressed concern about town liability and favored requiring his own sleeve/culvert and abutter easements; the Selectmen said any town easement or road cut would likely need clear specifications and possibly a town‑meeting vote.
Resident Penn Rhodeen raised a long‑running issue about his on‑lot disposal (OBD) discharge and whether it could run through a town culvert beneath Indian Point Road. Rhodeen said he sought a practical path to route the discharge, but Selectmen emphasized the town's risk if a private discharge runs through town drainage infrastructure.
Town Manager Billings and Selectmen said they were reluctant to assume future liability if the culvert plugged or required maintenance because the town could be drawn into repairs or claims. Board members said the preferred solution would be for the homeowner to install his own sleeve or culvert beneath the road and secure abutter easements; TM also noted any town easement or road cut could require town‑meeting action and engineering/specification requirements.
Board members agreed to seek clarity from legal counsel and MMA (Maine Municipal Association) on liability and to ask the resident for abutter easements and further documentation. No town easement was approved during the meetings recorded in the transcript.
Why it matters: Utilities, road cuts and subsurface infrastructure that intersect town drainage can create ongoing liability and maintenance obligations for the municipality. The board prioritized limiting town exposure and asked for legal and survey follow‑up before any easement or vote.
Next step: TM to follow up with legal counsel/MMA and the resident; any formal easement or road‑cut permission would require documented specifications and possibly a town‑meeting vote.
