Some votes Alna waited on last year due to COVID-19 are poised to be put off again, for the same reason. A truncated 2020 open town meeting delayed decisions on parking and other possible work at Pinkham Pond and town aid to Sand Building Road. On Zoom Wednesday night, Feb. 10, selectmen said both issues warrant discussion at an open town meeting, which this year’s will not be. Selectmen plan to have the town vote on the budget and other items in a referendum March 27, the same day as local elections.

The board plans to ask voters to take a step toward a Cross Road project by hiring a civil engineer; and will put on the referendum a change in the E-911 ordinance voters passed in a special town meeting last October, and the shoreland zoning amendment Ralph Hilton has petitioned for. Second Selectman Doug Baston said the ballot might also have another shoreland article.

“I’m working on one on my own ... a compromise between the various interests on the (Sheepscot River) to get this endless controversy behind us ... I expect to bring something” to consider putting on the warrant, he said. “If I think there’s enough support for a middle path, I’d do that.”

Christopher Cooper has agreed to do the town report again this year, for nothing, like always, First Selectman Melissa Spinney said. “Thank you, Chris.”

‘Easier to send to Pete’

The man behind some nearby towns’ websites is set to become Alna’s. Selectmen decided unanimously on Peter Coughlan’s custom package that includes local photos. He said websites need to stay current to keep people coming back. He typically posts minutes, voting results and other items same day, and contacts towns to feed him fresh information if they have not been, Coughlan told selectmen.

The Randolph man added, fire or other departments can run their own sections on the sites, but towns so far have left it all to him because, he said they say, “It’s easier to send to Pete. He’ll take care of it.” Coughlan said he does Pittston’s, Randolph’s, Farmingdale’s, West Gardiner’s and now The Forks’ websites. The proposal he sent Alna lists the custom site at $2,745 for year one. Selectmen plan to fund it from grant funds on hand.

Some residents questioned the board’s picking Coughlan without seeking bids or someone closer. Selectmen said they did not put out a formal request but have brought up the current website and been looking at options for some time, have heard from no one else, and Coughlan came recommended and is diligent.

In another web matter, selectmen mulled, but took no vote on, having property cards’ data online for $2,000 a year. The town hears often from realtors seeking that information, so the online access for the public would save staff time, board members said. “I think it’s one more thing that we can do to support the staff,” Third Selectman Greg Shute said.

When the board discussed asking voters to increase the deputy clerk pay to a cap of $18 an hour, Baston called for residents’ respectful treatment of staff. He said a citizen at the town office that day started right in complaining the office was never open. Baston said when Town Clerk Sheila McCarty patiently explained there had been COVID-19 exposures, the person said they did not care if the whole office got it, he wanted to be able to do his business.

“I do not want to hear that. I’m so tired of that kind of behavior toward our town employees,” Baston said. “I don’t know if this is directed at us (selectmen) because they don’t like us but if it is, do not take that kind of crap out on our office staff ... That’s just awful.”