By Maurice Emery
Editor Emeritus

The monthly Littleton Board of Commissioners meeting started off quiet enough Monday night with the approval of the minutes from last month’s meeting and the approval for the payment of the town’s bills.
The meeting was then opened up to citizens for their concerns.
Sylvia Alston came to the meeting with an agenda for making the town’`s vehicle abandonment ordinance up to date and, according to her, enforceable.
Alston came prepared with photos, facts, figures and a list of changes to the present town ordinance. She laid out why she thinks the changes are needed. She walked the commissioners through her experience in trying to get several unwanted vehicles towed away. She said she is faced with looking at five abandoned vehicles from her front porch.
In her handouts she listed five reasons why the town should change the present ordinance:
• Protection of property values;
• Promotion of economic development;
• Indirect protection of public health and safety;
• Preservation of the character and integrity of the community;
• Promotion of the comfort, health, happiness, and emotional stability of area residents.
Alston brought out the dangers of leaking gas tanks, radiators, battery acids, and oil from abandoned vehicles. The photos of abandoned cars were passed around the room. Town Police Chief Mike Suggs identified the vehicles and told the commissioners that most of them were on commercial property.
Before the meeting was over Mayor Mason Hawfield asked town attorney Gilbert Chichester to review the town ordinance and report back to the commissioners.
The board approved a motion to change the status of the newly hired policeman, Gregory Bolton, from part-time to full-time. The full-time officer they hired did not pass the test necessary to be hired.
The board approved entering into a contract with a company called GovDeals for the disposal of surplus town property. The contract does not appear to cost the town any money and it could possibly make some money according to Chichester. It was unclear what structure or equipment would be targeted first.
Chichester reported that the county is moving forward on condemning and removing the two vacant houses on Mosby Ave.
Town Commissioner Terry Newsom reported that they have been working on the parking problem at Littleton Service Center. There seems to be an ongoing debate on whether part of the property in question is a driveway or crosswalk.
Newsom made a recommendation to the board that they invest about $900 to purchase a laser gun for the police department. After a recent chase and arrest of a fugitive it became apparent that they do not have the necessary equipment to deal with an unruly suspect. The safety of the officers, as well as the suspect, is a concern for Suggs and the commissioners.
While Mace is a viable alternative, sometimes it is not sufficient to subdue some suspects, leaving the only alternative drawing a gun.
A taser would allow for a solution between the extremes of controlling a suspect. The request was tabled until they find out what the insurance company needs to keep the town covered when using the taser.
Commissioner Al Cooke used his time to bring up his complaints about the town cemetery. The board listened patiently but told Cooke that this has all been settled by the courts.
Chichester brought out the point that there might be a conflict of interest for a commissioner to advocate using town funds to enhance his personal property. He recommended the board discuss this at a future meeting.