DIXFIELD — An audit of town finances showed the town is doing well financially, according to Ron Smith, of RHR Smith and Co.

Smith reported the results of the audit to selectmen Monday night. He explained the town generated “$80,000 of surplus through favorable revenue.

“When I met with you earlier this year, you guys thought you would be down about $110,000,” Smith said. “You actually made more, which is huge.”

Smith said, “Right now, Dixfield is in the minority of what's going on in the municipal world. You have 60 percent of towns struggling, and 40 percent being able to feel good about where they're going. You can consider yourself in the 40 percent.”

In other business, the board appointed resident Todd Blodgett to the RSU 10 Withdrawal Committee. During a Nov. 13 selectmen's meeting, Chairman Malcolm Gill said that in order for Dixfield to begin the withdrawal process, the Department of Education is requiring them to form a withdrawal committee. This committee must include one member from the Board of Selectmen, one from the general public, one from the group that filed the petition to withdraw and one appointed by the RSU 10 board.

Bruce Ross, vice chairman of the RSU 10 board, was appointed to the committee earlier, while the board approved Selectman Bob Withrow and resident Jon Holmes to the committee at the Nov. 13 meeting. Holmes is the resident responsible for drafting the petition to withdraw. Blodgett will be the member representing the general public.

The board also discussed the Maine Department of Transportation's upcoming project, which is to grind up the surface of Route 2, from the bottom of High Street all the way to Hall Hill.

“We're going to grind up the road and resurface it,” Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said. “We're also going to fix the curbs and the sidewalks in that area while we're at it.”

Skibitsky also said the town report will be dedicated to Deputy Treasurer Charlotte Collins, who will retire at the end of the year. According to Skibitsky, Collins has held the position since July 1979.  She will be succeeded by Samantha Hill.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com