Members of the Dresden Budget Review Committee presented selectman on Monday, July 11 with a draft policy proposal that if approved would limit the unspent funds that could be carried over from one fiscal year to the next.

Committee member Dave Probert said that the committee was merely advisory.

“Our mission is to advise the selectmen,” said Probert.

Committee Chairman Peter Walsh said the committee would like to begin the budget process earlier than normal. He proposed a joint meeting to go over the policy proposals.

“We would like to meet as soon as possible,” said Walsh.

According to a printed draft of the new policy, any surplus exceeding 15 percent of the total appropriated expenditures for that year would either be used to reduce taxes or be put in a special reserve account.

Selectman Allan Moeller said a meeting of both boards would be difficult before the end of August. Selectmen tentatively scheduled a workshop meeting for Monday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. at Pownalborough Hall.

Selectmen’s Chairman Dale Hinote agreed to take the committee report under advisement.

The committee had consulted with other towns and reviewed information from the Maine Municipal Association in formulating the policy initiative, Walsh said after Monday’s meeting.

Also following the meeting, Moeller said he was in general agreement with the reforms but in terms of the highway budget, it was often necessary to carry over funds for several years in order to accumulate enough money to complete major highway construction projects.

In other business, selectmen signed off on a $84,000 Department of Environmental Protection grant to construct a box culvert on Bog Road. The new culvert is aimed at improving the fishway. Moeller said the town was paying an average of $10,000 to repair seasonal damage to the present culverts. He said that the grant was $11,000 less than first announced and that selectmen may have to ask townspeople for an additional $20,000 to complete the project. He said he would talk with engineers to see if the work could be completed for the available funds.

The board agreed to spend an estimated $3,398 on a riding mower, weed wacker and equipment trailer. The board had previously voted to have municipal lawns mowed by a town employee rather than renewing a mowing contract.