What: Annual town meeting

When: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28

Where: Dirigo Middle School

Annual town meeting is Thursday

DIXFIELD – Residents will have a chance to act on a proposed $1.9 million municipal budget, elect people to committees and decide whether to adopt an updated flood plain management ordinance at the annual town meeting Thursday, May 28.

It begins at at 6 p .m. in the gymnasium of Dirigo Middle School.

After the town’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Montell “Bummy” Kennedy, is honored for his many years of community work, those attending will decide whether to adjourn the meeting if it goes beyond 9 p.m.

Resident Fremont Tibbetts circulated a petition that called for an adjournment, with the remainder of the meeting reconvened on the following Saturday or some other night.

Last year’s town meeting continued for nearly eight hours. Tibbetts had told selectmen that many people cannot stay out for such a long time.

Residents will act on 35 articles, with most asking for approval of funds that, if all passed, would total $1.9 million as recommended by selectmen, or about $10,000 less than the current year’s operating budget. Residents may choose recommendations from the selectmen, the Finance Committee or some other figure for each money article.

Residents will choose six members for the Finance Committee, five people for the Water Advisory Committee and one person to the Ione Harlow Scholarship Committee.

Major cuts were made to social service and economic development accounts, including the River Valley Growth Council and River Valley Chamber of Commerce.

No employee will receive a raise this year, but none will likely be laid off.

Elections for the two open selectmen’s seats – incumbents Selectman Norine Clarke, who will run again, and Brad Dyer, who will not – will be determined during the June 9 state primary vote.