DIXFIELD — Selectmen on Monday unanimously authorized Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky to enter into an agreement to buy the former Althea Fish house on Main Street at a cost of $35,000.

A $500 down payment will be made to the Fish heirs to be taken from the selectmen’s contingency fund.

But first, residents must approve the purchase. Skibitsky said a special town meeting will likely be called in early August to get their permission.

He said no taxpayer money will be used for the purchase of the 200-year-old woodframe building and associated one-plus acre lot. The funding will come from the Ione Harlow Community fund.

He said many uses for the property, located in the center of town, have been suggested, including as a public boat launch, park, and parking lot.

“This would be a tremendous asset to the town,” Skibitsky said.

Selectmen also entered into an agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation to begin the process needed to replace the Webb River Bridge that connects Dixfield with Mexico.

He said bids will likely go out in October, and work could begin as early as Dec. 1. The bridge project is expected to take from 12 to 18 months. During construction, one lane will be open to traffic at all times.

Selectmen also approved submitting an application for a sidewalk grant that, if successful, would connect Dirigo Middle School, Dirigo High School, the school district central office, Marble Park and McGouldrick Park.

Laurie Soucy, school health coordinator for Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10, will write the grant. She wrote a similar grant for the town of Rumford.

The town of Dixfield would be responsible for 10 percent of the grant, either in cash or in-kind work.

The town is also going after a $50,000 Efficiency Maine Trust Grant that would provide greater energy efficiency in the town garage.

In other matters:

— The ongoing negotiations with the union that represents the town’s five-person public works crew is now advancing to mediation next month. The current contract expired on June 30, 2009. In a related matter, a grievance from the public works department will advance to the arbitration stage in August.

— Town auditor Ron Smith of Buxton advised the board to refinance the $1.5 million loan it has for the water department. He said the town could save thousands of dollars if it refinances because of the low interest rates.

— Skibitsky said the town is also planning to investigate the reasons behind the difference in the finances between the water and sewer departments. Right now, the water department is making equity and the sewer department does not take in enough money to cover depreciation. He said both departments are gauged from the same meter.

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