DIXFIELD – Selectmen on Wednesday agreed to sit down with Mexico Water District trustees to try to work out a deal for the continued operation of Dixfield’s Water Department.

At issue is whether to sign an $80,400 annual contract with the Mexico Water District for the operation of this town’s water department.

As it stands, services from water district Superintendent Jim White and his crew expire on June 29. The two boards have been in discussions for several months. The Mexico Water District has operated the Dixfield Water Department for about a year.

If the contract is agreed upon, the annual service fee will jump from about $38,000.

White said the higher cost is attributed to the anticipated hiring of a third licensed water operator. He said Dixfield will have been charged about $19,000 for operation of Dixfield’s Water Department for the first six months of this year, while White’s employees have been given raises and other costs have risen as well.

He said his employees receive an additional $40 each week when they work in Dixfield, and as superintendent he receives an additional $80 per week.

Trustee Dave McDonald said the proposed contract would be about $133 per year per customer, based on 600 Dixfield water-users.

Selectmen Chairwoman Bettina Martin set a special meeting of selectmen and the Water Advisory Committee for 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the contract. Selectmen will meet with the Mexico Water District trustees at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Mexico town office to possibly take action on the matter.

Selectmen delayed action on a new sewer department budget until the board meets Tuesday, when they will discuss a possible long-term plan for the municipal sewer system and consider raising user rates, which haven’t been increased in about a dozen years.

In other matters Wednesday, the board welcomed newly elected Selectmen Norine Clarke, a local business owner and community activist, and James Desjardins, a retired postmaster. Incumbent Selectman Raymond Carlton was sworn in for a second three-year term by Town Manager Thomas Richmond.

Martin and Selectman Brad Dyer were re-appointed as chairwoman and vice chairman, and regular semi-monthly meetings were set for 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at Ludden Memorial Library.

Selectmen also approved the purchase of two light bars and sirens for police cruisers at a cost of $2,500 each, as requested by Chief Richard Pickett. Funds will be taken from the reserve account.