DIXFIELD – Selectmen unanimously agreed Monday night to give residents a chance to decide whether to pay for maintenance of the Newton Brook rest area to keep it open.

They also agreed to ask voters whether the town should accept a road into the Rocky Ridge subdivision. Both matters will be decided at next month’s annual town meeting.

The Maine Department of Transportation has decided to close five of the 22 rest areas it has maintained for many years in the Region 3 area. The Newton Brook rest area is about four miles east of the village on Route 2.

Acting Town Manager John Madigan said he has learned that annual maintenance costs are tentatively estimated between $5,000 and $6,500 annually by the Department of Transportation, a responsibility that would be assumed by the town should residents agree to it.

“It’s a nice thing to have out there,” he said, adding that the state has turned over many costs to the towns.

If residents agree, the town would be responsible for regularly pumping the portable toilets and removing garbage, mowing the grass, insuring the site, and grading the rest area’s interior road.

“It would add to the public works department’s responsibility,” he said.

Selectman Brenda Turbide said she was concerned because of the department’s commitment to maintain several town parks.

If the town decides not to take over the rest area’s maintenance, the Department of Transportation will remove the picnic tables, portable toilets and other facilities and close it.

Residents will also decide whether to accept a road accessing the 10-lot Rocky Ridge Towle House Estates subdivision owned by Butch and Donna Towle on Holt Hill.

Madigan said the Planning Board has approved it as having been built to town standards.

Public Works Department Director Tim Hanson said the road will be one of the town’s best once it is paved.

The annual town meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 31.

In other matters on Monday, the board voted 3-1, with Chairman Bettina Martin casting the only dissenting vote, to keep on a public works employee whose job was slated to end this week, until the board meets April 23.

Whether the employee will be assigned to the department permanently is dependent on whether the Mexico Water District decides to continue operating the Dixfield Water Department.

The trustees of the Mexico Water District are scheduled to meet next week to make a final decision on whether to end the agreement or continue it.

Also on Monday, the board:

• learned that the Town Manager Hiring Committee will interview five of the 14 applicants on April 16 and April 19; and

• directed Madigan to research the possibility of leasing the town’s sweeper to Irving Forest Products for part of the year. The manufacturer approached the town with its request, Madigan said.