BUCKFIELD – Selectmen were informed Tuesday night by town Treasurer and Tax Collector Cindy Dunn that the property tax rate will be going down on dwellings but not land.

The 2004-2005 tax rate will be $19.25 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The present rate is $20.10.

Dunn reported that 19 new dwellings were assessed in the past year.

Lewis Williams, superintendent of Buckfield Village Corp., reported on the work being done on water lines in the Park and Ride parking lot. He said crews were taking out the zigzagged lines and putting straight lines across to the bank and then to the park. He will install a hydrant in the park.

Judy Berg of the Comprehensive Plan Committee said the committee needed to know if the board would support its efforts at trying to get money from the Androscoggin Council of Governments for the plan. She said the town needed a plan to be in place if grants were to be granted.

A draft was written in 1993, but was not supported at a public hearing, and work ceased. The last plan was developed in 1986. Berg said the biggest problems will be in zoning and economic development.

Town Manager Glen Holmes asked if they could take the old plan to the voters.

Berg said it needed updating and map work. The board told Berg to let it know when the committee was ready to ask for money, and the board would arrange a special town meeting.

In other news, a Beano application for Buckfield Recreation Department was signed.

Sodom Road bridge is being shored up by Bridge Corporation, the contractor for the Route 117 project, so it can haul gravel from a pit on Sodom road. Holmes said he would take pictures now and after the gravel hauling was done. The board agreed that the road should also be graded after the project was completed.

Holmes reported that the district was able to acquire oil at $1.22 a gallon for one year from C.N. Brown.

Holmes reported that all summer road paving was completed, though some aprons of two feet will be done next year.