Town staff updated the Committee on Roads and Right of Way Tuesday on the town's encroachment policy, outreach to property owners and enforcement approaches after a presentation to the select board earlier this month.

Bob Bistromoski and Tracy McDonald told the committee they presented the existing encroachment policy to the select board on Oct. 8 as a refresher; the policy dates to 2014 and has seen only minor amendments since. "2014 was the date it was, put into place," Bistromoski said.

Bistromoski said the presentation focused on the current policy rather than recommending specific changes, and staff plan community outreach to explain the policy and procedures. He described field work this summer by interns and follow-up visits in which many homeowners were willing to work with staff after they learned the policy requirements.

Bistromoski summarized the select board discussion and said Drew Patnode, the town's director of public works, "views [metal stakes and rocks] as a safety concern and would like to take action," and that the select board endorsed that approach. Under the existing policy, Patnode has authority to take action when he determines a condition constitutes a public safety hazard.

Staff described the current enforcement toolbox: certified letters and follow-up visits for non-safety issues, and immediate action by public works or police when the director deems something an imminent hazard. The police chief has discussed enforcement options and noted that fines or penalties must be imposed by sworn officers under current language; staff and the chief discussed escalating fines and other enforcement approaches.

Committee members urged clearer outreach materials and suggested producing a best-practices compendium for residents (for example, guidance on landscaping edges and low-impact ways to define property edges). Staff said they will present the town-vetted slideshow to civic groups and neighborhood associations and continue enforcement consistent with the policy.

There were no policy changes voted by the committee at the meeting; staff said any suggested revisions would return to the select board after public outreach and committee input.

Committee members discussed nuance in 'road layout' widths on local streets and asked staff for summary data on recent enforcement contacts; staff said outreach and enforcement contacts numbered in the hundreds over the past year and that more specific counts could be provided on request.