LISBON – The basic cable television rate for subscribers here will go up more than 25 percent April 1. Bills will increase by $2.58, from $7.40 to $9.98 per month.

The rate increase requested by Adelphia and approved by selectmen Tuesday night is the first in about two years, during which time the firm completed upgrades to the system and added lines, said Town Manager Curtis Lunt.

In other matters, selectmen agreed to sell a surplus 1985 ladder fire truck to Dixfield for $50,000; and gave their stamp of approval to the nomination of Lt. Bob Robitaille as captain of the Lisbon Falls Fire Company for a two-year term.

The contract for sewer treatment plant headworks design was awarded to Sevee and Maher Engineers of Cumberland for a cost of $36,600. The pact includes design and supervising installation. Funds for the project will come from a $350,600 bond issue for special projects that was approved at a town meeting in December.

Central Maine Rebuilder’s Inc. was awarded the contract to rebuild valves, pumps, etc. at seven pump stations throughout the town on it’s bid of $43,775.

Lunt was authorized to establish and appoint an 11-member “re-use task force” to study options for the use of Lisbon elementary and Marion T. Morse elementary schools. Both will be vacated in the fall when the central elementary school on Mill Street opens. Several groups have expressed an interest in using the facilities. Lunt hopes to have the panel organized and ready to begin meetings within the next two weeks, with the end of March set as the deadline to present a report along with recommendations to selectmen.

A final decision on the what is done with the buildings will be made by voters at the annual town meeting in May.

Residents interested in serving on the panel should call the town manager at 353-3000.

Lunt said the Maine Department of Transportation has notified him that it has found sufficient funds for the reconstruction of the Little River Bridge at the Lisbon-Topsham town line this summer. There was some doubt earlier this month when bids came in higher than the projected $1.5 million cost.