Taking the first step in checking out a Newcastle man’s claims about the Alna-Jefferson line will mean taking a lot of steps: Alna selectmen on June 29 announced plans to walk part of the line, over an uncertain number of acres off Egypt Road.

They and Jefferson selectmen will walk it together later in July, Alna Third Selectman Doug Baston said. He contacted the Jefferson town office after the Alna board first took up John Hilton’s research June 15.  Hilton maintains that tax and other maps incorrectly show about 20 Alna acres in Jefferson.

Discussing the matter for the second time since receiving Hilton’s papers based on his years of research into his ancestors’ properties, Alna selectmen were unsure how much of the acreage sits right on the part of the line that Hilton has questioned; so they were unsure how long their walk will be.

When locating the markers, maybe Baston could just point toward them, Second Selectman Melissa Spinney said, smiling.

There was other humor. Baston said that in thinking of ways to expand the tax base, he hadn’t thought of expanding the town; and at another point in the discussion on the line, he said, “I think we could probably end this without bloodshed.”

Selectmen used to have to walk their town borders every 10 years, in a task called perambulating the line, Baston said. The state no longer requires it, he said.

First Selectman David Abbott recalled going out to the Alna-Whitefield line 20 or so years ago, when he was also on the board, to view the marker for where the towns meet at Ben Brook.

Members still anticipate needing a surveyor, title attorney, or both to verify Hilton’s claims. They would seek to share costs with Jefferson, Baston said.

Nonprofit eyed for request

The board decided to approach Midcoast Conservancy for a yearly contribution to the town, in lieu of taxes on former Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (SVCA) property. Baston raised the idea, saying it’s a common practice among land trusts, as good community relations with the towns where they have land.

Like other property owners, the organization receives town services such as fire protection and roadwork, Baston said. “And it’s not like they’re a poor organization,” he said.

A land trust’s contribution typically amounts to what the property would have yielded in taxes, which for Midcoast Conservancy would probably be under the much cheaper, tree-growth rate, Baston said. He didn’t have an estimate but said it would not be a lot  of money.

SVCA merged with Hidden Valley Nature Center, Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association and Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance to become Midcoast Conservancy on Jan. 1, according an SVCA website at www.sheepscot.org.

In a phone interview June 30, Midcoast Conservancy’s transition and finance director Steve Patten said it has no policy on paying towns; some towns may have received money from the prior organizations, although he did not know which towns or which organizations, Patten said.

He agreed with Baston’s comment that the conservancy receives town services, but Patten said it also provides services to the public. It offers programs and access to preserves, including the Trout Brook and Bass Falls preserves in Alna, he said.

The conservancy may develop a uniform approach for fielding towns’ requests, one fair to all towns and to all the members who pay into the organization, he said.

Cable talks

Selectmen said they will check with other Lincoln County towns on the rates they’re getting for franchise fees on cable television.

According to a May 26 letter, Charter Communications combined with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks into one company, New Charter, going by Charter Communications. Selectmen said they would compile other towns’ rates and seek the average rate for Alna’s deal. Board members said they would not accept the rate of three percent of yearly gross revenues. The rate appears in a document the provider emailed the town June 27. The email describes it as “a boiler plate agreement for franchise negotiations.”

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at the town office. Baston expected the line-walking with Jefferson selectmen to happen after that, likely on one of the remaining Mondays in July.