North Stonington — Finalizing a process that began in July, the selectmen have developed a draft ordinance that formalizes a longstanding practice of maintaining several private roads.

The ordinance includes most of the roads currently maintained by the town, the amount of work done and the conditions of the agreement, which include easements allowing the town to perform maintenance on the road and a provision from the insurance company that doesn't hold the town liable.

The ordinance first will be reviewed by one of the town's attorneys before the Board of Selectmen decides during its Nov. 1 special meeting whether to send it to a town meeting.

First Selectman Shawn Murphy first considered ending the policy after the budget for highway materials was trimmed over the summer. He has said he feels it's not fair to continue to maintain only some private roads, but after discussing the issue with the other selectmen and the public, brought the draft ordinance forward keeping the highway work in place.

Based on past practices detailed in the ordinance, paved roads will receive surface patching and chip sealing or paving, while gravel roads will be graded. All roads will receive regular plowing and sanding. Armstrong Pentway will be plowed and sanded after all other roads, based on past practice.

Maintenance beyond that is the responsibility of the property owners, according to the ordinance, and if the road becomes impassable by town vehicles, the town can ask for the road to be upgraded.

A separate ordinance taken from a law passed in 2014 underlines that agreements should be in place between the owners of private roads dictating how maintenance should be done. Avery Lane and Princess Lane are included, as well as Armstrong Pentway, Billings Road Extension, Cranberry Bog Road, Patricia Avenue and Wrights Road.

Maintenance done on private roads in town is a longstanding practice which, in the case of Patricia Avenue, goes back close to 50 years.

Murphy estimated the cost of highway work done annually on the 0.6-mile stretch of Patricia Avenue to be $2,945.

Residents of Patricia Avenue, part of the Blue Lake Tax District, vocally have opposed shifting maintenance costs onto property owners. 

"It sounds like they're doing a pretty good job of covering all the bases," said Bill Hixson, president of the Blue Lake Tax District, upon hearing about the proposed ordinance. He said he would be trying to get all the residents of his road out to the town meeting once it has been scheduled.

Resident Joe Gross said he didn't want the town to potentially do less work on his road while continuing to work on private roads if highway funds eventually were cut.

"Bringing this to a town meeting allows that discussion," Selectman Mark Donahue said.

The selectmen likely will vote to maintain several private parking lots at a future meeting, Murphy said.

n.lynch@theday.com