DIXFIELD – Selectmen at Monday night’s board meeting unanimously OK’d a new tax rate of $29 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The previous rate was $26.
At a special town meeting Thursday, a majority voted to take an extra $100,000 from surplus to keep the tax rate down, resulting in the $3 rate hike.
In other business, the board said Public Works Director Tim Hanson could look for a newer pickup truck to replace the town’s 1989 Chevy utility truck, with one proviso. Hanson must take Town Manager John Madigan with him.
At the board’s next meeting, selectmen are to decide whether to purchase a new truck found by the pair and sell the 1989 truck.
Selectmen also voted 3-2 to allow Hanson to spend $4,376 to seal cracks in 4,000 feet of Blaine Street. Hanson said several other roads likewise need to be preserved.
“Some of these roads are cracking so badly, that with another winter of freezing and thawing, we’ll be at ground zero with them,” he said.
Madigan said Blaine Street was one of the worst.
“The town has to know we’re here to maintain town roads,” argued Madigan. “This is a good, wise investment, a valid request and a valid point.”
Selectmen Bettina Martin and Brenda Turbide objected, saying money for the project had not been approved by town meeting voters in June.
Both Hanson and Water and Sewer Operator Duane Powers then advised selectmen that a new generator was needed to replace one that broke during Friday morning’s lengthy power outage.
A van struck a utility pole, severing it, at 3:40 a.m., which caused a transformer to explode.
Hanson said that if another power failure happens, the lack of a generator to power sewer pumping would mean that Hall Hill would be flooded with sewage within a half-hour.
Selectmen asked Powers to check with surrounding towns for a portable generator.
Comments are no longer available on this story