Dresden selectmen announced the property tax rate and appointed former selectman and former fire chief Gerald Lilly interim assistant fire chief Monday, Sept. 18.

Selectman Dale Hinote said the board had set the tax rate at $17.80 per thousand dollars of valuation at a special meeting Aug, 31. The increase from $17.70 was largely the result of a $9,000 increase in the school assessment, said Hinote.

Selectman Allan Moeller Sr. nominated Lilly for the interim position following the announcement that Assistant Fire Chief Ron Theriault had resigned at an executive session the board held Aug. 2. 

“He verbally resigned. He went out and came back in and threw his keys on the table,” said Moeller. An attempt by the Wiscasset Newspaper to reach Theriault for comment was unsuccessful.

Resident Victor Blomquist questioned if the resignation could be considered official without a written notice from Theriault. 

The board agreed to accept formal applications, allowing Theriault to reapply if he chooses. The deadline for applications was set for Monday, Oct 16.

Hinote said the board takes seriously its “fiduciary” role in managing personnel of the fire department. “We provide 95 percent of the budget for the department,” Hinote told reporters after the meeting.

Selectmen agreed to let the department use up to $500 from the recreation fund for food for an open house. Moeller said he would not accept the use of the funds other than for food for the event. Other recreational costs including a jumpy tent would have to be paid for by the firefighters’ association, he said.

Following an executive session, the board voted to ban dogs and children from fire department meetings held in the fire house.

“There should not be children at the meetings. Dogs are not allowed,” said Hinote. 

In other business, the board set Tuesday, Sept. 26 and Wednesday, Sept. 27 to interview prospective candidates for administrative assistant. Longtime administative assistant Trudy Foss has said she will step down at the end of the year.

“We have four applicants with a variety of experience,”said Hinote.

Hinote said the board is still looking for a fifth member for a committee to negotiate line extensions with cable provider Spectrum.