DIXFIELD – New Town Manager Jeff Jacobson on Monday night attended his first Board of Selectmen’s meeting.
He was asked to look into a salary survey, progress on policy updates and length of terms for various appointed positions, and also to write an outline for the development of the 2006-07 municipal budget, including meeting dates for department heads and the Finance Committee.
Jacobson, formerly of Waite Park, Minn., took over the reins of Dixfield government on Jan. 17, replacing long-term interim Town Manager John Madigan. Madigan had been serving as town manager of both Mexico and Dixfield for six months. With the hiring of Jacobson, Madigan has returned to his full-time position in Mexico.
Board Chairman Tony Carter will review the various municipal committees Jacobson should attend, as well as such external committees as the River Valley Growth Council and the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.
In other matters, Public Works Director Tim Hanson had both good and bad news for selectmen.
At an emergency meeting held last week, Hanson and the board believed a new computer and monitoring system for the water department would have to be purchased. Water department operator Duane Powers has had to operate the alarm system manually, resulting in a considerable amount of overtime.
But on Monday, Hanson said the system came back online at 3 p.m. and is fully operational after work done by the Fitch Co. of Mexico, and communications consultant Jim Thibodeau.
Hanson said the Fitch Co. will return to make suggestions for simplifying the system, which would likely lead to lower telephone bills for the alarm system.
“We may have to buy a new computer at some point in the future,” he said.
On the downside, Hanson said the department’s 1995 International plow truck sustained a broken subframe Monday, which is estimated to cost nearly $7,700 to repair. He does not recommend the repairs and suggests that temporary measures be made instead. The department is planning to trade in two trucks for a new one in the near future.
Also on Monday, Scott Dennett said he had been elected fire chief, Gene Ellis re-elected as first assistant fire chief, and Donald St. Germain re-elected as second assistant fire chief of the Dixfield Fire Co. Dennett has served as interim fire chief since Scott Blaisdell resigned a few months ago.
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