DIXFIELD — The Board of Selectmen will continue discussion Monday on whether accumulated sick leave and personal days for former Town Clerk Charlotte M. Collins can be disbursed to current town employees.

The meeting is set for 5 p.m. Jan. 28 in Ludden Memorial Library.

During the selectmen’s meeting Jan. 14, the board unanimously voted to table discussion on the disbursement after the town’s personnel policy was deemed “too unclear” to make a decision.

Collins retired Jan. 11 after 36 years as deputy treasurer, secretary and administrative assistant, among other roles.

“One section of the policy states that all accumulated credits must be forfeited upon termination,” Belskis said. “In a different spot, however, it says that it’s possible to disburse the credits, with a maximum donation of 40 hours per employee, and that the employee wishing to retire must submit an application to the town manager if they wish to disburse it.”

In other business, selectmen will also decide whether to grant the Dixfield Police Department the power to make statewide arrests.

During the Jan. 14 meeting, police Chief Richard Pickett explained to the board that sometimes his department responds to incidents in nearby towns, such as Carthage, Canton or Peru, but must wait until the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department or state police arrive to make an arrest.

“There’s a lot of municipalities doing this now,” Pickett said. “We’d be allowed to respond to a scene and make the arrest.”

He also explained that Dixfield police wouldn’t be patrolling in other towns, but simply performing their law enforcement duties as requested.

The board will also receive an update on the RSU 10 Withdrawal Committee from selectman and committee member Bob Withrow. 

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link