The meeting, held remotely, brought to light the residents’ ongoing struggle with OciOla Drive, a private road that has been maintained by the town for years despite its private status. The residents are now advocating for the removal of a stipulation from a 1992 subdivision plan that obligates the road’s owner to maintain it at no expense to the town. Their aim is to clear the way for the road’s acceptance as a public road, which would relieve them of maintenance responsibilities and ensure consistent municipal services.

Residents emphasized the practical challenges they face, particularly during adverse weather when the lack of maintenance renders the road impassable, affecting essential services like postal and oil deliveries. Without a homeowners association to manage maintenance funds, they have historically relied on the town’s informal support. However, the town recently ceased plowing the road, highlighting the need for a sustainable solution.

During the discussion, it was noted that the acceptance of OciOla Drive as a public road would require an independent engineering assessment to ensure compliance with town standards, including the road and drainage systems. The board acknowledged that this process would involve multiple steps, including legal reviews and potentially amending bylaws to clarify the town’s responsibilities.

A key point of contention was the potential precedent that removing the maintenance clause might set. Board members expressed concerns that this could lead to similar requests from other private road owners, which could impose financial burdens on the town. Despite these concerns, the consensus was that removing the clause would not automatically entail the town’s acceptance of the road without further evaluation and rehabilitation to meet public standards.

The board’s discussion also touched on past instances where private roads, such as Echo Brook Lane and Maple A, were removed from the town’s plowing list. The issue raised broader questions about the town’s policies regarding private road maintenance and the financial implications of accepting additional roads into the public domain.

Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to amend the 1992 subdivision plan, removing the clause that required private maintenance of OciOla Drive. This decision was seen as a necessary step in addressing the residents’ concerns and progressing toward a resolution. However, the board made it clear that this action did not imply any immediate acceptance of the road as public, reiterating that further steps, including a comprehensive assessment of the road’s condition, would be necessary.

In addition to the primary focus on OciOla Drive, the meeting covered several other agenda items. There was a brief discussion on the approval of an ANR (Approval Not Required) plan for properties on Main Street and Walcott Street, which the board endorsed unanimously. Additionally, the board agreed to accept the withdrawal of an application for 85-89 West Main Street without prejudice after some procedural clarification.

Another item was the scheduling of future board meetings for 2026. Concerns were raised about potential conflicts with the town election, leading to the tentative scheduling of a meeting on May 11 to avoid election day complications. This decision was made with an understanding of the need for flexibility in response to any upcoming developments.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the preparations for the annual town meeting, emphasizing the importance of a timely calendar to accommodate necessary public hearings. The board expressed a commitment to ensuring all articles for the town meeting warrant are ready in advance.