DIXFIELD – Selectmen on Monday approved spending $2,800 as the town’s share of hiring a police officer to investigate domestic and sexual abuse cases full time in Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield.

They also held a public hearing on a proposed revised street standards ordinance.

Both matters will go before residents at a special town meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 27.

Lt. Mark Cayer of the Rumford Police Department asked for the $2,800 to help bridge the gap between grant money and the amount needed to employ a full-time officer assigned to domestic and sexual abuse cases. The investigator will be part of the Rumford Police Department and will divide his time among Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield and will begin in December. Mexico and Rumford have already approved spending the funds.

The Rumford Police Department received less than half the funds needed in a federal grant last month to pay for a full-time investigator.

Cayer said if the three towns can show that the position makes a positive impact on such crimes, chances are high that a grant will be received to fund the entire position next year. He said the $2,800 is needed now. His department will return to Dixfield to request another $4,560 during the June town meeting to help finish paying the total cost of the officer.

Although the plan is supported by all town officials, Dixfield police Chief Richard Pickett and Town Manager Jeff Jacobson said no funds were set aside in the police budget for the expense.

A special town meeting will be called next month to ask residents to approve taking $2,800 from the town’s overlay to reimburse the police department budget for the cost.

After a short public hearing, the board also approved sending a revised street standards ordinance to residents for approval at that same special town meeting,

Board Chairman Bettina Martin said the major changes in the proposed ordinance call for all new roads built in subdivisions to meet town road specifications, including having to be paved, if they are to be accepted by the town.

In other matters, the board:

• Set a special meeting at 8 a.m. Nov. 3 at the town office with Selectmen Martin and Brad Dyer, Jacobson, all-terrain-vehicle leader Dan Mitchell, and Pickett to devise a new ordinance that would govern ATV use;

• Set a water and sewer departments workshop for 5 p.m. Oct. 30 at the town office;

• Appointed Martin to replace former board Chairman Tony Carter on the River Valley Growth Council; and

• Reappointed Montell Kennedy to an alternate position on the council’s board.