By Terry Karkos,Staff Writer

ROXBURY – Despite “surface blemishes,” like miscommunication between Roxbury selectmen and the Fire Department, this tiny western Maine town is regrouping and moving ahead.

“This town is doing a lot better than what it looks like from the outside,” said Selectman Alan Hodgkins early Wednesday evening.

Hodgkins is one of two selectmen remaining after Selectman Tim Gallant resigned June 13. Also at the helm is Selectman Douten “Dan” Thomas.

A special town meeting to elect a new selectman can’t be held until late August. Additionally, on July 9, Thomas, also volunteer Roxbury firefighter, was summoned for having an unpermitted burn at his Roxbury property, Hodgkins said.

“It looks bad, but the town of Roxbury is actually doing pretty good. Our problems are all on the surface,” Hodgkins said.

Hodgkins, a self-employed carpenter, and Thomas, a NewPage Corp. employee, were elected at the March 7 town meeting.

They inherited a Fire Department that was virtually defunct. They also have to contend with the dilapidated former Northwest Precision Co. building and surrounding property on Route 17, which is to be the site of Roxbury’s new municipal building and fire station complex, Hodgkins said.

The previous Board of Selectmen, he said, had reportedly persuaded the town to purchase the property for $75,000, then use $25,000 to renovate it.

But the structure that was envisioned for the municipal office had been built in 1950 and must be demolished, Hodgkins said.

“It’s hard to convince people here that we have to tear the building down when they were told” last year at a special town meeting that all it needed was “some paint, and we could move into it,” he said.

A 1999 addition on the structure, which is to house the Fire Department, can be renovated.

The old building is set for demolition shortly, then volunteers are expected to build a more energy-efficient structure.

“We’re trying to put the wheels of progress in motion. We’re not in debt, we paid for our building in cash, and we have cash on hand for materials,” he said.

The town is also on the verge of ordering a new firetruck, to be bought with federal grant money and a town funding match.

Regarding the Fire Department, Hodgkins said he met Wednesday with the newly reappointed chief, Gordon Touchette, and Assistant Chief Wayne Hamel, and “worked out” some problems.

“It feels like we’re being kicked while were down, but I hope everybody can give us some time, because everybody will see a change in us in a couple of months,” Hodgkins said.

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