DIXFIELD — The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted Monday evening to allow a Dixfield woman to hold a memorial dance in the town office parking lot.
Resident Gerry Thibodeau told the selectmen during the public comment section of Monday evening’s board that a year ago, she and her grandchildren started raising money to craft a memorial bench in memory of her grandson, Tyla Thibodeau, who died in 2013 in a dirt bike accident.
“We raised the money for the bench, and we were going to hold a dedication program this coming Saturday at Dirigo High School for Tyla’s bench,” Thibodeau said. “After the ceremony, I was going to hold a dance from 6 to 10 p.m. in the school parking lot for Tyla’s friends that attended the ceremony, but I was just told yesterday that we couldn’t hold the dance in the parking lot because the lighting is not good enough.”
Thibodeau continued, “I’ve already paid $400 for the DJ and I want the kids to have a good time. I’m wondering if it would be okay to hold the dance in the town office’s parking lot. I’m sort of in a bind right now.”
Police Chief Richard Pickett said that he told Thibodeau that he had no problem with the dance being held in the Dirigo High School parking lot, and that he would have a police officer at the dance to make sure everything was safe.
“I just found out today that she couldn’t hold it at the school,” Pickett said. “I wouldn’t have a problem with her having the dance in the town office parking lot. The parking lot is fairly well-lit at night. The only issue I could see is the noise for the residents that live in the apartment complex nearby.”
Pickett said Wednesday afternoon that he had contacted the owner of the apartment complex adjacent to the town office and found “no problems.”
“The dance remains scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13,” Pickett said. “We 100 percent support the idea of a dedication dance and find it nice that she’s trying to do something for her grandson.”
The dance will last from 6 to 9 p.m., Pickett said, adding that one of his officers will be present to make sure everyone remains safe.
Thibodeau added that she already had “10 to 15” chaperons committed to attending the dance, and had a “setup and cleanup crew” prepared to ensure there was no garbage left behind after the dance.
Selectman Mac Gill asked Thibodeau what she was planning to do for bathrooms.
“I was thinking about that, and I don’t think we have to worry,” Thibodeau said. “We’re going to be at the school for awhile before the dance, and the dance is only three hours long.”
Gill said that they could use the town office’s bathroom in the main lobby, as long as the other doors in the building were locked.
“That’s what we did for the Dixfield Outdoor Market,” Gill said.
Before they voted on the issue, Pickett suggested to the selectmen that they make this a “one-time thing.”
“Otherwise, you’re opening the door for other people wanting to have an event,” Pickett said. “You should make it known that this is a dedication for her grandson and that she needed a venue at the last minute. If we don’t do that, we could be opening a door that we don’t want to open.”
The selectmen then voted 5-0 to allow Thibodeau to hold the dance from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, in the parking lot of the town office.
mdaigle@sunjournal.com
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