CANTON – Several residents told selectmen Tuesday night that loitering and vandalism is a growing concern in town, saying cars and homes have been burglarized and gangs frighten residents who venture outside. They expressed special concern for the elderly residents of Victorian Villa who often take walks on the streets.

Assistant Fire Chief Mark Blanchette said a group of vandals tried to break back windows in the school, and is violating property in other ways. He said he would be willing to lead a Crime Watch group. The board scheduled a Crime Watch organizational meeting on Thursday, Sept. 30.

Special projects leader Diane Ray presented an update on the flood-mitigation grants. The town has received commitments for a $140,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration to buy homes damaged in the December 2003 flood, for a Community Development Block Grant of about $360,000 for a FEMA disaster declaration, and about $70,000 for lot cleanup after acquisition has taken place.

Kim Wing presented a case for her elderly mother, who she says cannot survive the winter in her damaged home. She is No. 10 on the list of buyouts. Ray said properties on the list were prioritized according to such factors as proximity to the flood plain, damage from the recent flood, repeated and frequent flood damage, health and safety concerns, interest in participation in the buyout plan, and individual circumstances.

Ray said the committee would know this month if the town has received a downtown planning grant. The Flood Mitigation Office’s hours and telephone numbers are available on the cable channel and town office bulletin board.

Bids for the new Canton Fire Department building were opened, but lacking enough bids for the concrete floor, the committee asked the selectmen to try and secure more bids before awarding any contracts. Mark Blanchette was the low bidder for the construction of the building, and L and L well drilling of Turner was low bidder for the fire station well. John Cleveland of Community Dynamics Corp., the engineering firm that drew up the station plans, was present for the bid openings.

Selectman Donald Hutchins will attend the Oxford County caucus budget meeting on Monday, Sept. 20. This meeting was called to replace a member on the budget committee.

Selectmen voted to move their meetings to the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m., starting after the Sept. 29 meeting.

The board set the tax rate at $23 per $1,000 of assessed prop-