Work day volunteers needed

MEXICO -- Selectmen authorized spending up to $500 to make renovations to the snack bar at the Mexico Recreation Center.

The board took the action at their meeting on Jan. 11 following a presentation by Recreation Board member Mabel Merrill and her husband, Selectman Peter Merrill, a volunteer for town recreation activities.

Mabel said work, including placing sheetrock along one of the walls, will be done before a scheduled work day on Saturday, Feb. 5. "We're looking for people to paint...We want to make the room look more presentable."

Peter noted, "It needs a facelift...We're hoping we can generate better revenue up there."

The snack bar is used at events like rollerskating nights and birthday parties.

The work day will begin at 8 a.m. Anyone who can help can call Mabel at 364-3343.

The Merrills noted that at some point, they want to see the gymnasium area painted as well. However, the cost will be much more expensive as scaffolding will be necessary as well as professional painters. At some point, that job will be put out to bid to determine the cost.

In other business, after Madigan suggested that the board begin to look at a schedule for the annual development of the municipal budget, discussion turned to possibly continuing to work with the Dixfield Board of Selectmen to propose merging the police departments.

Madigan then noted that after past talks that members of the Dixfield board were not interested.

Selectman Byron Ouellette said the town should also at least explore the option of having the Sheriff's Office provide police service the way it is now doing in Bethel before discussing a budget.

The motion was made to have Ouellette discuss the feasibility of such an option with Sheriff Wayne Gallant. That vote was passed, 2-1, with Selectman Reggie Arsenault voting against the discussion matter.

Selectmen unanimously approved a motion by Arsenault to appoint Don Cummings to the Mexico Water District Board of Trustees to fill an unexpired term through June 30, 2012. He replaces Dave McDonald, who resigned recently after serving some 20 years as a trustee.

Deciding on the appointment was made more difficult because there were five other applicants -- Edward Fontaine, Hope Calderwood, Dwight Murphy, Christopher Bryant and Andrew Dupuis.

"It's difficult to choose," noted Selectman Byron Ouellette. "It's too bad none of them showed up so we could ask questions."

To that end, selectmen were left with making the appointment based on the candidates they were familiar with.

Selectmen reappointed Town Clerk Penny Duguay as registrar of voters.

Following a public hearing, the board approved a trailer park license renewal for Laurie and Brian Frost.