DIXFIELD — The Board of Selectmen will attempt to schedule the town budget referendum June 10, the same day as the state primary election, Chairman Mac Gill said.

At the March 17 board meeting, it was decided to have the budget vote at the polls instead of by a show of hands at the town meeting. Due to the change, Gill said the town’s usual budget process will have to speed up.

“We all agreed that at the annual town meeting, instead of voting for the money items by a show of hands, we will attempt to agree on a single number for each department budget,” Gill said. “After we agree on the numbers, we will put it up for a vote at the June referendum.

“In order to do that, the selectmen and the Budget Committee have to come up with their budget numbers by April 4,” Gill said. “Right now, we’re planning to hold the annual town meeting during the second week of April.”

Dixfield normally holds its annual town meeting the third or fourth week of May.

“Once the town agrees on a single number at the town meeting, the residents will be able to vote for it during the June referendum,” Gill said. “We’re required, by law to post the warrant 45 days before the vote in June, so we need to move fast on this.

“The girls at the Town Office are working their butts off to make sure we get this budget in on time,” he said. “Our interim town manager, Gene Skibitsky, is also doing a heck of a job. He’s really grabbed this thing by the horns and has helped us out.”

Gill said the board unanimously voted Monday to accept Linda Pagels-Wentworth’s resignation as town manager, and approve Eugene Skibitsky as interim town manager.

Pagels-Wentworth resigned March 12, nearly a year after she was hired in May 2013. She cited personal reasons.

“Gene said he would serve for us until the committee we put together is able to find a new town manager,” Gill said. “He’s been really good to us. He’s the person we need right to get our budget in order.”

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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