CANTON – Selectmen on Wednesday night approved a sewage rate hike of 11 percent to become effective on July 1.
The raise will be reflected in the October bills because the sewage bill is paid every three months.
Rates per household are on a sliding scale. A house with two occupants has an average bill of about $60, while a family of more than five pays about $75.
The town billed $65,257 this past year and expenses were $56,500. Added expenses include a $15,000 bond payment that still has three years to be paid off. The increase is necessary to meet expenses. Selectman Donald Hutchins said he had checked with some other towns, and Canton’s rates were low in comparison.
In other business, Administrative Assistant Kathy Hutchins proudly showed off the Relay for Life Trophy that the Canton team won for raising the most money for the American Cancer Society in its Relay Walk. The amount raised locally was $5,041 and the total raised from Oxford County was more than $70,000. Canton also received the Team Spirit Award.
Sue Gammon, a Grant Committee member, asked the board back her application for a state Soil and Conservation Grant, which would be used to develop a wetland on a School Street property the town seized for nonpayment of taxes. The board approved her request.
Two bids were opened for demolition of the six houses that have been purchased with buyout grant money related to the December 2003 flood. No bid was accepted as the town does not own the property at this time.
Hutchins mentioned that Code Enforcement Officer Stan Haynes wants to resign, but will wait until the town can find a replacement.
Selectmen reviewed a complaint from Chris Daily that stated that Randy Gammon was working on a town road without permission. Selectman Donald Hutchins said he would write a letter to Gammon asking him not to work on any town roads without being hired.
The Canton Volunteer Fire Department will present an auto show on Saturday, June 11. This show is in conjunction with the fourth annual Canton Summer Fest, which will run from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a craft fair, flea market, a noon chicken barbecue, ball game, moon bounce, husband-wife wheelbarrow race, and other activities.
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