Public works expands to six

DIXFIELD — Selectmen gave the town's fire chief permission to visit an engine his department may want to buy and agreed to advertise for a Public Works foreman.

At Monday's board meeting, fire Chief Scott Dennett requested permission to travel to Alabama to check out a 1995 combination aerial and pumper truck as part of the town's plan to buy a new fire engine to replace the department's 1985 aerial truck.

The asking price for the 1995 truck is $236,400, which the department has in its capital fund, Dennett said. If the truck is purchased, one of the bays in the fire station would have to be raised, he said.

A decision on whether to buy the engine will be made at a later time. In the meantime, he is pursuing a grant that could help pay for the replacement of a second engine, Dennett said.

Public Works Department Foreman Leo Jolin recently resigned to take a position as a laborer/truck driver with the same department, leaving the leadership position open.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said Tuesday morning that the current five-person crew will be increased to six once a new foreman has been hired. The larger Public Works crew will be in place until next year's budget season.

Applications for the position will be taken until 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.

In other matters, auditor Vernice Evasius told the board that the town's finances are in good shape. "The new internal controls have improved matters dramatically," she said.

The town's current undesignated fund balance is $702,798, up from about $554,000 for last year.

Also on Monday, the board:

• Adopted an expanded office fees policy that covers a variety of items ranging from copy costs to providing voter lists.

• Awarded the contract for the purchase of heating oil, diesel and gasoline to Hometown Energy at a cost of 17 cents per gallon above rack price.

eadams@sunjournal.com