CANTON – Selectmen on Thursday set the tax rate 50 cents higher for 2007, at $14.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The board also received a copy of the Oxford County Emergency Management Plan from Jim Dyment. Fire Chief Wayne Dube said the town has had its own plan since 2002.

Dyment also reported that the Army Corps of Engineers had placed a monitor in the river that will need little or no maintenance and will send out an alert if water is getting too high. Oxford County Emergency will get the signal and alert Dube.

Brunswick Housing Authority was chosen as the developer for the new village center. It will be responsible for helping find contractors to build homes, finding financing, locating homes on lots and marketing homes, among other duties. Its goal, according to Executive Director John Hodge, is to make housing affordable to the community.

Selectman Donald Hutchins said he had met with the Recreation Committee, and the need for lights at the ball field is critical. It is hoped to have lights working before winter when the ice rink will be built. Finding the money will be discussed at the next selectmen’s meeting.

The rent for using the Municipal Building was raised to $50 for residents, with a $50 cleaning deposit, and $100 with a $50 deposit for nonresidents. Community groups are exempt from fees.

The board accepted the resignation of Sherry Blanchette as janitor of the Municipal building.

The board complimented the church on the building painting job that was recently completed.

Selectman Rick Ray and Chairman Jackie Conant gave rave reviews of the Androscoggin River boat ramp dedication on Dorey Road on Thursday afternoon.

“It’s a beautiful site, and one can put in a canoe at Dixfield and come right down to the new dock,” Ray said.

The town will discuss adding benches and picnic tables and will be responsible for maintenance of these additions.

The board meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month.