CANTON — Selectmen on Thursday set the tax rate at $9 for the six months ending June 30, because the town is switching its fiscal year from the calendar to a July 1-June 30 schedule.

Voters will pass a budget at the annual town meeting June 25, after which a new tax rate will be set for the fiscal year of July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. 

The new fiscal year will match that of the school system.

Board Chairman Scotty Kilbreth told members he would like selectmen to act as liaisons for town committees and departments so the board would be better informed about issues.

The following assignments were then made: Lisa Cummings for the Trails and Parks Committee and the Municipal Building Committee; Shane Gallant for the Highway Department, Transfer Station, Fire Department and Emergency Management; Jackie Conant for the Town Office, health officer, code enforcement and dam committee; Donald Hutchins for the Recreation Committee, sexton and the Planning Board; and Kilbreth for sewer department, animal control officer and dam committee.

The following appointments were made: Jack Plumley, code enforcement officer; Donna Hebert, health officer; Don Cumming, sexton; Jim Dyment, EMA director; and Tracy Wing, animal control officer.

Bids from Will Kahkonen, Issac Haylock, Todd Piper, Mark Blanchette and Three Seasons Yard Care for mowing cemeteries and common town areas were opened. The board thanked the bidders and said they would study the quotes and award a contract at their next meeting April 28.

Administrative Assistant Kathy Hutchins said there are so many committees meeting that they needed to use the new fire station meeting room, but the Fire Chief Shane Gallant, who is also a selectmen, refused.

A man in the audience said residents should be able to use the meeting space, and his language caused Kilbreth to ask him to leave, saying he would call police if necessary. The man calmed down and remained at the meeting.

Donald Hutchins said there was a good argument on both sides for the use of rooms at the fire station. He said a lot happens at the station during an emergency and firefighters couldn’t have kids running around. He said the Budget Committee and Planning Board used the facility when needed.