NORTH ATTLEBORO - The town is considering legal action to resolve problems plaguing the Hickory Woods subdivision.

Selectmen met behind closed doors Wednesday with a myriad of town boards, citing potential litigation as the reason to go into executive or private session.

Asked by a reporter to clarify the reason for the executive session, selectmen Chairman William Moffitt pointed to a report on the beleaguered subdivision that indicates the town might want to consider legal action in the case.

"It is recommended the town meet with town counsel regarding the efforts which can and should be implemented to protect the interests of the town," the report, produced by Mill River Consulting says. "In addition, it might be determined by legal counsel that the town has some other means of recourse or other actions which it can or should take to resolve the issues which exist with this project."

It is not clear whether the town would take legal action against the developer, builder, engineers or other parties involved in the project. Mill River Consulting was hired by the board of health earlier this year to detail the problems in the 45-home subdivision.

Residents there have long been asking for completed roads, sidewalks and street lights, but work has stalled because of flooding that undermined the original road.

Mill River's report detailed a variety of problems inside the subdivision, from septic systems designed for a three-bedroom home, but installed for four-bedroom homes, to other homes built 30 feet from locations listed on preliminary plans.

The consultants recommended that town boards work together more closely to resolve the issues in the neighborhood.