WILLIAMSTOWN - The frustration that the Town could not restrict where sex offenders live came to light at the Selectboard meeting Monday night.

A local resident told the board that a sex offender living next to the ball field had him worried for his "four young sons."

He said that he has researched the matter and been told by authorities that the man in question has preferences for certain age groups and hair color, and that "he watches my boys."

Mr. said that "the innocent shouldn't be the victims," and asked, "as a Town, how do we protect ourselves?"

Town Manager Garrett Earls said that Sheri Englert from the State told him that they have a program whereby someone will speak to the Town in a public education forum. He said that it is questionable as to whether or not a Town is allowed to issue any warnings regarding sex offenders.

Chairman Stan Corneille said that he thought it was appropriate for the Town to ask for that presentation.

A check of the State's sex offender registry shows six offenders listed as residing in Williamstown.

Two out of the six are listed as being compliant with their treatment status, three are marked non compliant and one is marked not applicable.

Under high risk, four have a no and two a NA.

Once you click on the names, however, those with the NA have a highlighted warning that says "No Risk Assessment Available-Presume to be High Risk to Re-Offend."

The Registry's disclaimer, however, states, "except for offenders specifically designated on this site as high-risk, the department of public safety has not considered or assessed the specific risk of re-offense with regard to any individual prior to his or her inclusion within this registry and has made no determination that any individual included in the registry is currently dangerous."

The board also held a public hearing regarding the upgrade of parts of Fermo Road and Flint Road from class four to class three.

The extension of Flint Road from Cold Springs up to the Poors' residence was recently found to be class four, and the Town had, for years, been maintaining it as a class three. It was unanimously accepted as a class three.

The class four section that links Cold Springs Road and Ferno Road was conditionally upgraded, there is a culvert that residents have been directed to extend that must be done before the road will be upgraded.

The board also considered and rejected the Town acquiring Village View Heights.

Selectman Larry Hebert said that he had "no problem with the road," but did have a problem with the "deficiencies" in the sewer lines.

Mr. Corneille went through a lengthy list of deficiencies found, including several that were labeled "joint separated large, gasket exposed" and even a break was found. Wayne Lawrence said that the owner, Raymond Duff is "committed to taking care of" the deficiencies. He also said that, despite the condition of the pipes, he thought that "effluent getting into the ground was probably not happening," but that ground water may be infiltrating, which echoed a similar statement by Mr. Hebert at the site visit prior to the hearing.