Board: Sabattus Selectmen

Met: Tuesday

Animal control truck

Issue: Reductions in the animal control budget, which the town shares with Lisbon, mean that Sabattus will not be able to contribute half of the cost to lease a new vehicle for the animal control officer.

Up next: Police Chief Thomas Fales told board members that money will have to be found someplace in the budget to fix the current vehicle, which is in disrepair and will not pass a state safety inspection.

Tax rate ranges set

The scoop: The town’s tax rate for fiscal 2008 will be someplace between $11.70 and $12.29 per $1,000 of valuation, according to Town Administrator Tracy Fabrizio. However, she said that the actual rate cannot be established until the municipal revaluation is finished.

New valve for fire truck

Issue: Engine truck No. 4 needs a new water purge valve, according to fire Chief Robert Scott. Board members unanimously approved purchase of the $2,995 unit from Northeast Apparatus in Auburn. The expenditure will come from the fire department’s equipment account.

Castonguay resigns

The scoop: After 20 years of service, Planning Board Chairman Denis Castonguay submitted his resignation to Selectmen Tuesday. Board member Polly McCauley was appointed chairwoman in his place.

FEMA won’t pay

The scoop: During a meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel, Selectmen Gino Camardese and Road Commissioner John Hyde learned that the agency will not pay for special box culverts, which cost about $10,000, needed to replace culverts that washed out at Webster Corner Road during the Patriots Day storm in April. Agency officials opted not to pay for the culverts because, even though the road washed away, the original culverts were not damaged by the storm.

Up next: Federal money can be used to install the culverts and to repave the roadway, however. Hyde said town crews will make the repairs as soon as possible so the road can be reopened. Town officials then will go looking for grant money afterward to offset the cost of the culverts themselves.