CANTON – Voters at the annual town meeting March 14 will be asked to authorize selectmen to sell the Village Ridge property on Edmunds Road.

Residents voted against developing the approximately 30-acre parcel into about 40 homes to replace those lost or bought out when the Androscoggin River flooded the village in December 2003.

The town owes approximately $177,000 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program for grants received to pay for purchasing and clearing the land.

Board Chairman Scotty Kilbreth said money from the sale of the land would be used to pay the federal debts.

Jeanette Ouellette, chairwoman of the Budget Committee, presented a draft of the budget to the board. The final budget will be submitted to the town at the annual town meeting. She said the budget shows no increase in pay for town employees and the committee focused on trimming as much as possible from last year’s budget.

The town is looking for applicants for the position of town sexton to oversee town cemeteries. Applications may be picked up at the town office.

Several residents voiced concern over the sewer charges coming the same month as the water bills. Previously, the bills had not come together and a request was made to return to that arrangement.

Kilbreth said he would check on the ordinances and see what could be done.