Celebration will mark 200th anniversary of Dexter’s incorporation

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DEXTER — In 1816, the town of Dexter — named for the then Democratic candidate for Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Samuel Dexter — was incorporated. On the exact 200th anniversary of this milestone next month, community leaders will recognize the milestone at the town hall.

“The anniversary celebration is scheduled for the 17th, it’s the actual anniversary of our incorporation,” Town Manager Shelley Watson said during a May 12 town council meeting. She said the event on Friday, June 17 will take place from 2-4 p.m. The celebration will feature a reading of the proclamation that established Dexter on June 17, 1816 with cake to follow in the dining area.

“Budget meetings are ongoing and the council has some difficult decisions in light of that,” Watson said about another item in her report. She is continuing to meet with department heads to go over their requests for 2016-17.

In other business, the council approved a proposal from Asphalt Pavement Technologies, LLC of LaGrange for paving inspection.

“I received five proposals from $88 to $60 an hour,” Watson said, with one bid having a considerably higher rate after eight hours. She said Asphalt Pavement Technologies proposed a rate of $60 per hour and 56 cents a mile from LaGrange to Dexter and then around town (and not for the return drive to LaGrange).

“I thought the most sensible was Asphalt Pavement Technologies, LLC,” Watson said.

In March the councillors accepted a bid of just over $478,000 from B and B Paving of Hermon for the paving contracts for the Silvers Mills Road, Zions Hill Road and the Airport Road. The motion also included an expenditure of up to $12,000 for a project consultant.

Watson said she met with the Corinna town manager to look at potential ways the neighboring communities could collaborate for mutual cost savings. “The first thing that was decided is they will help haul our winter sand and we will help haul their winter sand,” she said, saying this would be the reason for Dexter public works vehicles being seen in the adjacent town next winter.

The town manager also said a hiring committee has been reviewing applications for a grade 2-5 summer camp being offered to SAD 46 students through a grant from the William and Joan Alfond Foundation. Watson said interviews were scheduled for the following week.

The Plummer Foundation is providing a grant to fund an additional camp counselor position “for five counselors instead of four, so that’s very much appreciated,” Watson said.

The Dexter Town Council normally meets the second Thursday of the month, but in June the council will meet on Wednesday, June 8 to avoid a conflict with the SAD 46 district budget meeting. This evening will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 with a public information session at the Ridge View Community School.