DIXFIELD – Selectmen extended Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky’s contract through March 31, 2010, following a closed session Monday night.

Skibitsky began his duties with the town in October 2008. His salary for the coming year will remain at $45,000.

In other matters at Monday’s board meeting, selectmen set 5 p.m. Monday as the date for a public hearing on proposed changes to the shoreland zoning ordinance that would amend a portion of the resource protection zone to general development. The change would allow construction of a shower facility for a planned campground.

A special town meeting to act on the zoning amendment was set for 6 p.m., April 23, at Ludden Memorial Library. In addition to voting on the proposed zoning amendment, the special town meeting warrant includes articles authorizing selectmen to spend up to $39,000 in overlay funds to cover small overdrafts and to provide property tax abatements, and to raise $27,345 to cover additional costs for Dixfield’s share of replacing the Thaddeus White Bridge.

In other matters, selectmen agreed to reconsider the date of the annual town meeting. Right now, it is set for 6 p.m., May 28. Resident Freemont Tibbetts asked that it be changed to a Saturday, a time he said that would enable more people to attend.

Board Chairman Bettina Martin said selectmen would discuss the request at the next meeting.

A request by the Dixfield American Legion to rename the soon-to-be-replaced Webb River Bridge that connects the town with Mexico was tabled.

The legion wants to name it the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Skibitsky said he would research whether the town has naming rights and talk with Mexico Town Manager John Madigan about a bridge name.

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