DIXFIELD — The Dixfield Board of Selectmen have approved annual budgets for the water and sewer departments, the latter of which promises a $13,000 reduction in 2020 from this year’s total. 

The sewer and water budgets are on a calendar year, as opposed to the municipal budget, which runs on a fiscal year, July through June.

The board voted 5-0 to renew a four-year sewer contract with Ted Berry Co. of Livermore, a company that performs municipal and industrial pipe cleaning, inspection, trenchless rehabilitation and utility asset management.

Selectmen were pleased with the terms of the contract, as the final year of the contract, 2020, is actually $13,000 less than the cost for 2016.

Town Manager Carlo Puiia said the terms of the contract are:

• $62,500 for 2017;

• $64,062 for 2018;

• $65,664 for 2019; and

• $67,305 for 2020.

In contrast, the last contract began at $68,150 and ended at $75,959.

Over the past number of years, Ted Berry made recommendations for any capital improvements.

Puiia said a factor in the lower costs in the operating and maintenance contract was because of improvements made in the system during the prior contract.

The company’s president, Matt Timberlake, has also been tasked with an estimate of what it would cost to be involved in creating a new sewer ordinance for the town.

The board also voted 4-1 to approve a $370,000 Water Department budget, which is a $1,475 increase from last year’s budget.

Aaron Jamison cast the lone dissenting vote.

In other business, money has been budgeted to improve the town of Dixfield website, with the work to be done by administrator John Bernard of River Valley Graphics.

Still in the draft stage, Puiia said he and the office staff will be looking at what other communities have done on their town websites and then decide what would be the best use of the town site. When complete, the site will have more room for town documents, such as the comprehensive plan and local ordinances.

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