KINGFIELD — Animal Control Officer Paul White told selectmen Monday night that he has been able to reunite animals with their owners this winter.

He said when he gets a call about a stray dog, he captures it and puts it in a warm crate at his house. Ordinarily, he takes strays to the Franklin County shelter in Farmington the next day. However, he decided recently to make one last try to find the owners by posting photos of the animals on the Kingfield Community Forum Facebook page.

“People have seen the photos, so I’ve reunited a few dogs with their owners,” White said.

In other business, selectmen reviewed the town’s liability as financial stewards of Department of Economic and Community Development grants.

The department’s Micro-Enterprise Assistance program provides funds for small businesses to make improvements. In 2016, the Rolling Fatties restaurant on Main Street was a grant recipient, and the town served as the fiscal agent.

Selectmen held a hearing in February for those business owners interested in applying for the 2017 grants.

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Before any grant recipients are selected, Selectman John Dill asked Administrative Assistant Leanna Targett to seek assurance that the town would not be obligated financially if a future grant recipient did not spend the funds as planned or left town with items purchased with the state grant funds.

“I’d like to know if we have any liability issues,” Dill said.

Selectmen began their preliminary budget review in preparation for the June town meeting. The overall budget requests appear to be lower than last year, and many categories show no increases.

Two years ago, selectmen increased the rates for the wastewater collection system because the system was aging and required costly repairs. Customers have been paying higher rates, so the burden has been less on taxpayers who don’t use it.

“I like the fact that the wastewater system is finally paying for itself,” Selectman Heather Moody said.

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