TAX BILLS

            Real estate taxes have been committed to Tax Collector Joanne Rankin by the Board of Selectmen/ Assessors.  The tax rate has gone up by ten cents per thousand dollars of valuation; $8.90 this year as compared to $8.80 the previous year.  Taxes will be due Friday, October 1, 2010 with interest on unpaid taxes accruing as of Saturday, October 2, 2010.

            The assessments for this year compared with last year are as follows: 

• County Tax $264,002.99 compared with $249,757.08
• Municipal Appropriation $1,369,334 as compared with $1,414,778
• Local Education Appropriation $2,857,437.36 as compared with $2,785,009.58
• Overlay $104,588.96 as compared with $70,882.04
• State Municipal Revenue Sharing $85,000 compared to $100,000
• Homestead Reimbursement $32,129 compared to $41,641
• Net Assessment $4,478,235.36 compared to $4,378,785.10

SHAPLEIGH ART COORDINATOR

            Robin Cobb has served as Art Coordinator for the Town of Shapleigh ever since Ron Prevoir indicated that he could no longer continue in that capacity.  Robin has recently resigned effective as of September 30, 2010.  Both have done a superlative job during their service to the community and should be highly praised for their efforts.  The general public as well as staff always enjoy these exhibits and look forward to the new displays throughout the year.

            The Board of Selectmen is now seeking an individual who would be willing to serve in this volunteer position.  The job entails contacting persons who can provide some of their own artwork to be displayed at the Shapleigh Town Hall for a period of at least a month or more.  In the past there have been exhibits of paintings done with acrylic, watercolors, pen and ink, fabric, and more.   Photographs are another form of art which could also be displayed.  The artists are generally from the surrounding towns, even as far as Kennebunk.  Once the paintings are scheduled and brought to the Town Hall, the Art Coordinator arranges them in the display area.  The art coordinator provides a list of the artists and paintings along with their value which the Selectmen sign so that the artwork is covered by the Town’s insurance while on the premises. Artists may have an opportunity not only to gain exposure but also to sell their paintings, etc.

            Anyone interested in serving in this capacity should contact 636-2843 ext 401 for more information.

PLANNING BOARD

            Two cases have recently come before the Planning Board for Conditional Use Permits for the Best Possible Location (BPL).  Sharon Herbert applied to the Code Enforcement Officer for a building permit to replace an existing structure with a 30% expansion on her property at 14 Twenty-ninth Street.  That triggered the need for the application for a Conditional Use Permit.   A site inspection took place, notices to abutters were sent, the material received from the property owner was reviewed, and a review of the Zoning Ordinance was conducted by the Planning Board.   At its meeting on August 17 the Planning Board voted to approve the BPL for replacing the existing home with a new structure along with 30% expansion, moving the new structure back six feet from the high water mark than the existing structure.  Best Management Practices must be used during the construction project, a licensed surveyor will be needed to make sure that the structure is placed according to the approved plans and certify the foundation location.  Plantings need to be established by June 1, 2011.

            Ronald Cote of Sanford owns property at on Treasure Island and requested permission to replace an existing shed with a new shed and cooking area through the Conditional Use Permit process.  The Planning Board went through all the normal procedures regarding the application and on August 17^th approved the new shed being placed in the same location as currently.  The 12 ft. x 12 ft. cook area will be constructed in the same location as the existing shed at the rear of the house, no closer to the existing right of way/roadway.

ZONING ORDINANCE REVIEW

            The Planning Board will be conducting a Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 14 at 7 pm at the Shapleigh Town Hall.  The Board of Selectmen is proposing an amendment to the Town of Shapleigh Zoning Ordinance; Section 105-19.  H “Building Height.”  The public is invited to attend.

HISTORY OF SHAPLEIGH (BY Rev. Amasa Loring) continued:

(This is being presented as the Town of Shapleigh celebrates its anniversary of 225 years of incorporaton.)

“According to the above-mentioned vote, the following persons who had come in to town previous to 1782, received gratuitously the amount here given—upon the lots occupied at this time (1854) by the persons named,---“to wit:” (The first name between the semi-colons is the grantee, the second is the 1854 occupant)

In the first Range of lots on the east side of the town, the first settler  was John Giles, 30 acres, present occupant (1854) Wm. Pike;        John Davis, 37  acres,  Eleazor Thing;

Jos. & Jos., Jr. Giles,    50 acres, Widow of A. Giles; Daniel Giles, 90 acres, Charles Thing;

Joseph Moody, 24 acres, Samuel Hasty Jr.; Nath. Thing, 35 acres, Saul Thing; Moses Philpot, 20 acres, Charles Conant; Ebenezer Ham, 30 acres, Benj. Fernald; Wm. Thompson, 40 acres, Thos. Garvin; Benj. Webber, 8 acres, Thos. Shackley.

In the second Range, Sam’l Low, 30     acres, Ahira Baker, Esq.; Barzilai Low, 16 acres, Ahira Baker, Esq.; Wm. Stone, 31 acres, James Stone & son; Stephen Pillsbury, 54 acres, Jos. Pillsbury & son; Benj. Crocket, 30 acres, Moses Abbot; James Davis, 20 acres, George Ham; Jotham Trafton, 12 acres, Oliver Trafton; Dea. Jonathan A Ross*, 16 acres,______; Benj. Goodwin+, 40 acres, Elisha Goodwin; Dea. Thomas Shackley+, 40 acres, Moses Goodwin; Charles Emery, 40 acres, Wm. T. Stanley.

* This lot was taken up by Josiah Nason.  + Taken up by James Davis—who sold and took up George Ham’s.

In the third Range, James Davis, Jr., 12 acres, Wm. Davis; David Tiney, 16 acres, Greenleaf Webber; Richard Tiney, 12 acres, Widow McLellan;  Joseph Tiney, 30 acres,Ivory Hall; Benj. Abbott, 20 acres, John Abbott;  Moses Abbott, 20 acres, Elias Ham;

Gilbert Warren, Jr., 6 acres unknown; Edmund Neal, 40 acres, Charles Staples; James Sayward, 25 acres,,Wm. & Jas. Sayward; Samuel Patch, 10 acres, George Twambly;

Joseph Welch,  16 acres, Thomas Ham;  Daniel Wilson, 40 acres, Thomas Ham; George Ham, 144 acres, Rufus & Ab’h’m Ham; John Patch, 15 acres, James Patch;  Nath. Kent, blind, 39 acres, Uninhabited; Joseph Jones, 10 acres     , Uninhabited; Jethro Smith, 6 acres,Dam Mills Village; Abagail Kent, 6 acres, Eben Day; David Maxwell, Jr., 14 acres, Joseph Day.

It also appears that Wm. Stanley, Simon Richards and Saul Emery, Jr., refused to sign an acquittance, and take the proposed quantity.

The lots granted gratuitously, or sold previous to this time were located as follows: (The first name between the semi-colons is the grantee, the second is the 1854 occupant)

Jeremiah Hodsdon, 100 acres, Hiram Winer; Stephen Hodson, 100 acres, George Gilpatrick; Gilbert Warren, 100 acres, W. Parsons, I. Stiles and H. Pray; Joseph Hasty, 100 acres, Joseph Hasty, 3d; Samuel Hasty, 100 acres, Simon Huntress; Darling Huntress, 100 acres, Otis Huntress; Joseph Parsons, 200 acres, H. Lindsey; and G. Heard and O. Lord; Capt. Joshua Trafton, 100 acres, Betsy Pillsbury; Lemuel Trafton, 100 acres, David Goodwin

The first settlers of other lots, will now be given, so far as they can be ascertained.  (Note:  the first name is of the original settler and the second of the 1854 occupant of those premises.  A semicolon separates each property.)

Wm. Stanley, Robinson Hooper; Samuel Ham, Lebbeus & Levi Ham; H. N. Davis, Paul Garvin; Nathan Coffin, John Leavitt; Edmund Coffin,    James Coffin; Capt. J. Bartlett, P, Webber & Parsonage and D. S. Kimball;  Arthur Bragdon, Levi & Ivory Bragdon; Josiah Trafton,           C. K. Sayward and Widow Trafton; Capt. John Hasty, E. Bodwell, Esq.;

Aaron Warren,  Joseph Huntress; Bartholomew Davis, Benjamin Abbott; Elder Simonds, Jonathan Ross, Jr.; Elias Hall, Lyman Ham; Samuel Tinan,      Jotham Ham; John Norton, G. Webber & J. Norton; David Boston, Town Farm; Wm. Linscot, Earlsworth Pilsbury;

Joseph Linscot  , D. Welch & I. Ridley; Jeremiah Leavitt, Noah Ross, sen.; Samuel Leavitt        , Saul Leavitt; Daniel Wilson, Samuel Hooper; Jedediah Low, J.Thomas Low; Abraham Chick,         Sen. Abraham Chick, Jr ; Lewis Trafton, H. A. M. Ferguson; Daniel Ferguson, Nathaniel Ferguson; Robert Fernald,            Robert Ferguson and son; Wm. Thompson, Jr., Frederick Fernald; Noah Ross, Naham Ferguson; John Thompson,             Luther Thompson;

James Thompson, Jordan Wilson;  John Neal, J. N. Garvin; John Pillsbury, Tobias Pillsbury; Samuel Stanley, Tobias Pillsbury; Rufus Wadleigh, Tobias Pillsbury;       Darling Huntress, Simon Pillsbury; Simon Goodwin, James Gowen; Ham Nason & Oliver Horn;

Abraham Pugsley, John Goodwin; Jeremiah Emery, Isaac Wentworth; John Webber, J,Eliakim Webber; Simon Ricker, sen., Simon and Thatcher Ricker; Wm. Stanley*, George Hooper; John Hooper, John Bragdon; Samuel Shackley, ________ Welch; David Thing, David Thing; Maturin Abbott and Son,Jacob Abbott; Joshua Trafton, Ivory Trafton; John Trafton, Nahum Thompson.

*The first male child born in town.

INCORPORATION AND TOWN OFFICERS

Till 1801, the town meetings were held in the West Parish.  The previous year it was voted to hold them one third of the time in the East Parish.  It was accordingly held in the dwelling house of Capt. J. Bartlett.

In 1807, the town voted to hold them alternately in each Parish.  Owing to the natural separation of the two Parishes, by the Ponds and Plains already described, it was inconvenient to assemble the inhabitants in either Parish.  As early therefore as 1820 the question of dividing the town was agitated.  The majority however then opposed it.  In 1825 the subject was brought before the town twice and voted down by a handsome majority.  To set the matter at rest, the town voted to instruct the Selectmen not to insert any such article in the Warrant again for five years.

It was soon found however that the subject could not be hushed so easily.  In 1828, the number of inhabitants being 3000, it was again taken up, discussed, and carried by a large majority.  A Committee was raised to draft a petition to the Legislature, to divide the town and incorporate the West Parish, as it had been originally divided, or nearly so.  Dr. Reuben Buck, John Bodwell, Elisha Bodwell, Dr. Wm. Lewis, and J. C. Libby were chosen said Committee.  In the November meeting a vote was passed instructing the Representative to use all fair and honorable means to effect this object.—It was mot accomplished however till  the meeting of the next Legislature.  The Town then called a meeting, and as it was not represented this year, chose Elisha Bodwell Agent to attend to the business, and defined the line, by the old Parish line, with one deviation, so as to take in two families.  The division was then effected and March 6, 1830, the West Parish was incorporated as the town of Acton.

In the year 1844, a settlement upon the North-East corner of the town lying contiguous to Dam’s Mill’s village in Newfied, and lying separate from other settlements in Shapleigh by uninhabited plains, was set off from Shapleigh and annexed to Newfield.