Sabattus Board of Selectmen

Met: Wednesday

New town manager

The scoop: Board members announced that Gregory Gill has been hired as town manager. Gill starts July 1.

Animal control

Issue: The truck assigned to animal control, which is shared by Sabattus and Lisbon, needs extensive repairs to meet state inspection. Plans to lease a new truck this year partly were derailed by cuts to Sabattus’ animal control budget.

Up next: Police Chief Thomas Fales examined his budget and found about $3,500 that could be put toward a new vehicle. Fales plans to meet with Lisbon Chief David Brooks to discuss the potential new vehicle and will bring the matter to the board.

Animals agreement

The scoop: Poor conditions at the town’s animal shelter, plus budget cuts, led board members to sign a one-year shared services agreement with the Androscoggin County Humane Society.

Up next: Selectmen will have to decide what to do about the shelter’s conditions, as well as the departmental budget.

Tax rate

The scoop: Board members said Wednesday that the town’s tax rate for fiscal 2008 is not set but likely will be between $12.79 and $13.43 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Road repairs

The scoop: Webster Corner Road, damaged during the Patriot’s Day rainstorm in April, has been repaired and is open to traffic, Road Commissioner John Hyde said.

Up next: Selectman Gino Camardese requested a breakdown of the project costs so he can draft a grant request for reimbursement to the state. Also, Hyde received an $8,000 estimate to pave Elm Street, which the board will consider during a future meeting.

Brush contract

The scoop: Brush from the town landfill will be ground and disposed of by P.R. Russell Inc. of Richmond. Board members approved the contract Wednesday. It costs the town nothing; Russell will keep the chips for its mulch processing plant.

Waste station

Issue: Two 40-cubic-yard disposal containers at the transfer station are unsafe and will cost several thousand dollars to repair, Manager Jerry Sabins said.

Up next: Board members approved selling the cans to a scrap yard and buying two new ones from Atlantic Recycling Equipment LLC for $8,110, which was the lowest of two bids received.

Intrepid bids

The scoop: Four bids came in for the 2000 Dodge Intrepid that served as the police chief’s car, the highest from Amber Damon at $2,601. If Damon doesn’t take the car, it will go to next highest bidder, Bill Waterman, for $1,652.

Contact J.T. Leonard with local government news at 252-6040 or at [email protected]