It prompted some hot words last week but, this Tuesday, a revised “how to” guide for citizens who want to get a private road made public was approved by Selectmen with only brief discussion.

Selectman Judith Whiteside presented it as “a street acceptance procedure for informational purposes only . . . It is not a policy.”

Previously, when presented as a policy, other Selectmen objected that the town should not be telling people how to get a street approved if the town has no money to maintain additional streets.

Some of that sentiment persisted this week as Selectman Alan Slavin referred to the willingness to accept new streets as a “self-inflicted unfunded mandate.”

In response, Selectman Peter Teitelbaum pointed out that, under state law, “people have a right to apply” to have streets adopted by the town. He added that he would “have a difficult time” saying “no” to an applicant who showed up “with everything in order.”

And, with that, the guide was unanimously accepted.