CANTON — Selectman Donald Hutchins suggested Thursday night that the board be proactive in the face of Hurricane Irene and line up professionals to remove any downed trees, if necessary.

“If we wait until the storm hits, everyone will be tied up,” Hutchins said.

Before the board meeting, Chairman Scotty Kilbreth said he attended a water district meeting Wednesday night with Malcolm Ray, who oversees the temporary dam on Whitney Brook that regulates the level of Lake Anasagunticook. Kilbreth said officials would monitor the level of the lake and Ray might have to remove some of the boards in the dam if Hurricane Irene dumps a lot of rain on the area.

In other news:

* The board set the tax rate at $18.55 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Based on the last sixth-month budget, it would be a 55-cent increase.

Kilbreth said the rate hike is needed because the state is cutting back reimbursements to the town.

* Administrative Assistant Kathy Hutchins said she checked with the state and the Americans with Disabilities Act about having town welfare recipients work in return for the help. She said she was told she could ask anyone to do some type of work, if it did not interfere with their disabilities.

“We are turning welfare to workfare,” Donald Hutchins said.

* Kathy Hutchins asked the board about charging fees for ads in the Canton Crier town newsletter.

Kilbreth asked her to check with the town of Rumford on how it handles advertising.

* The board adopted a revised law on smoking that conforms to state law. It says there will be no smoking on public property, which includes the ball field, fire station and fire engines.