Because Alna elects its road commissioner, selectmen can neither remove nor discipline him or her, but can handle a roads matter if the commissioner does not, board members said Jan. 31 as they pondered a policy, ordinance, job description, or no document. 

The things the board would want in the expectations, including inspecting roads, are in state law and the board could just rely on that, Second Selectman Steven Graham said. He did not want to try to rush an ordinance proposal onto the March town meeting warrant. And he said if a proposal was drafted, he would suggest copying the language from the statute.

It hurts nothing to have a document of the board’s expectations, to help ensure everyone is on the same page, First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said. And he said the board can have “additional expectations. We don’t have to be limited by statute.” He suggested a “barely more than one page” document that could be readily accessed.

Said Graham, “I think it adds a layer of paperwork that could become more confusing than helpful.” Later in the discussion, Graham agreed with fellow board members, if the document is called a job description, it could be useful to voters when considering a road commissioner candidate. He still wanted to keep the document consistent with state statute. 

The board’s Feb. 8 agenda, released Feb. 2, calls for a discussion of the draft job description.  

The agenda also calls for the board to consider adopting a climate resiliency partnership municipal resolution Pentaleri said will make the town eligible for grants. The climate action committee was finalizing the proposal, he told the board Jan. 31. Selectmen meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the town office and on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88969670493