DIXFIELD – At Monday night’s meeting, selectmen OK’d a billing change for the Sewer Department, and agreed to replace a police cruiser.

Water and Sewer Department Director Duane Powers proposed changing billing to a quarterly schedule, to start in March and April. Public Works Administrative Assistant Darlene Brann said the move would help cash flow and reduce paperwork.

After a lengthy discussion, selectmen voted 4-0 to replace cruiser No. 44 by June 30, using cruiser reserve funds.

In the interim, the board advised Chief Richard A. Pickett to have a mechanic examine the cruiser’s front end to see if there are any problems.

When asked by Selectmen Chairman Eugene Skibitsky about cruiser No. 44, Pickett said he had taken it off the road because it was unsafe.

“I won’t put a police officer out there in a car that’s not safe. I won’t do it,” he said.

Pickett said a third cruiser, the unmarked car, was just discovered to have holes in the underbody in the floorboard, which would require major work to fix.

The department’s newest cruiser, which Pickett said was forced off Route 142 last week and damaged, should be repaired and back in service by mid-week.

Pickett and Selectmen Stephen Donahue then clashed briefly when Donahue sought the chief’s take on whether he questioned an area mechanic’s ability to repair town cruisers.

Another selectman said the mechanic has notified the town that he will not do any more work on town vehicles as a result.

Donahue said the mechanic’s story and the chief’s story on the issue “don’t exactly jog.”

Raising his voice, Pickett said, “My word is my integrity. What I say is the way it is.”

Selectman Tony Carter then changed the topic, asking if it was OK for the board to postpone purchase of a cruiser for four to five months. Pickett said it was.

“We definitely want to make sure the cars are safe for our officers,” Carter said.

In other business, the board approved junkyard permits, without discussion, for:

• Norman Mitchell, East Dixfield Road (Route 17) in East Dixfield.

• James Speranza, Old Staples Hill Road, Dixfield.

• Morrison Motors, Morrison Road, Dixfield.

• Shannon L. Drown, Drown Road, Dixfield.

• Robert S. Blanchard Sr., Holman Road, Dixfield.

• Lester and Claude Averill, Averill Road, Dixfield.