DIXFIELD — A special town meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at Dirigo High School to vote on a budget for the Police Department.
Voters rejected the department budget of $391,445, $25,000 for a police station capital improvement fund and $5,200 in miscellaneous funds.
The board will present a lower budget of $366,984, the amount Police Chief Jeff Howe initially presented.
Town Manager Carlo Puiia said money for the police station capital improvement reserve fund will not be on the warrant this time. It was to go toward relocating the department.
The $5,200 will be on the June 29 warrant. It includes $2,500 to help the Historical Society pay its mortgage on the museum, $1,400 for American flags, including those on veterans’ graves, and $1,300 toward the River Valley Fourth of July celebration.
At last week’s selectmen meeting, town officials presented Barbara Chow with Dixfield’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year award.
“I appreciate everything she does for this town, and we respect her greatly for that,” Puiia said. “When we were growing up, our parents would tell us to always say thank you, and the reason we do it is because we respect that person and appreciate what they do. Dixfield, tonight, wants you to take that feeling home with you because you really have earned that honor,” he told Chow
Chow has served the town on school boards and on committees.
She has also devoted many years to the Dirigo High School Booster Club, serving as president and treasurer, while running and organizing all of the fundraisers that enabled the purchase of equipment and uniforms for the sports teams.
Chow was nominated for the award by Susan Holmes.
Following the presentation, state Rep. Richard Pickett, R-Dixfield, presented Chow with a legislative sentiment.