Woodland selectmen vote to seek legal review after resident’s easement letter

The Town of Woodland Board of Selectmen voted May 22 to authorize legal review of a certified letter from resident Thomas Drew that questioned the validity of a right‑of‑way easement. The motion was made by Chairman Chris Fournier and seconded by Vice‑Chair Kathy P. Ouellette; Selectman William Barnum abstained. The meeting began at 5:30 PM and was adjourned at 6:00 PM.

Board members did not resolve the substance of the easement claim during the emergency meeting. The board’s action was limited to directing Vice‑Chair Kathy P. Ouellette to contact an attorney for clarification on the right‑of‑way and to report back to the Board of Selectmen. William Barnum said he would abstain from the vote and asked who the attorney would be; the transcript records his abstention but does not specify an attorney name.

No executive session was convened. The clerk, Bridget A. Coats, recorded the meeting minutes and noted that the town is not recording the session; the minutes also state that independent recordings by members of the public could become public records under Maine’s Freedom of Access laws and could be requested from the town office.

Next steps: Vice‑Chair Kathy P. Ouellette will contact counsel and report the attorney’s guidance back to the board at a future meeting. The board took no further formal action on the easement claim at this emergency session.