At a previous meeting the selectmen had received a letter from Pastor Jim Pearson of the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Richmond asking for more financial support. Last year Dresden donated $300 to the bank, which received 209 requests for food from Dresden residents. Richmond donates $5,200 per year to the food bank.

Sherry Moody, president of the Bridge Charitable Trust, with members Jeannine Clark and Robin Rushleu made a presentation to the selectmen.

"I talked with Jim Pearson and he was very upset about having to refuse Dresden residents. The biggest issue is that Dresden is not sending enough money," said Moody.

Selectman John Ottum said they have no way of knowing how many Dresden residents are using the bank. Administrative assistant Trudy Foss said when she asked Pearson for a list of Dresden residents who use the bank, she was told that state law requires the names of the residents be confidential, despite the fact Foss is the town's welfare officer.

Moody said she believes many elderly residents will go to the bank but hesitate to ask for help at the town office. She said she believes that Pearson's number of about 200 residents is correct.

Ottum said he was under the impression that Richmond wanted $1,000 or more from the town. According to Moody, Pearson said a donation of $1,200 to the pantry would be enough for Richmond to discontinue asking Dresden residents to have a voucher from the town office.

She said the Bridge Charitable Trust would donate $600 to help the food bank, only requiring the town to donate $600.

Ottum said the Bridge Charitable Trust has done a lot of good things for the town, saying he was inclined to take their suggestion to donate $600. He said the town has already set aside $300 and suggested the selectmen raise the extra $300 from the general administration account or recreation fund.

Codes Enforcement Officer Rick Lang said residents will need more assistance because of rising fuel oil costs.

"There's nothing worse than having no food or no heat," said selectman Win Moody.

The selectmen voted unanimously to take another $300 out of the administration or recreation fund to send to the food bank.

Moody said with this donation, residents will be able to use the food pantry without needing a voucher. Bio-diesel

The selectmen gave solid waste chair Dave Probert permission to test a batch of bio-diesel fuel.

Probert said he has been creating bio-diesel fuel on his own time and his most recent batch of fuel, made several months ago, contained glycerin, a soap product containing free fatty acids and phosphates.

He asked the selectmen's permission to test this batch at the recycling center to ensure the glycerin is not harmful.

"Will you be recording all of the data?" asked selectman James Rea.

"I'll try," replied Probert.

Probert said he will mix five gallons of the glycerin with five gallons of motor oil and determine if it is harmful based on the color of the flame and smoke and how it burns.

He said he has been producing about 100 gallons of bio-diesel fuel a year but said there is a viable outlet for turning waste products into usable fuel.

"I don't have a problem as long as it doesn't mess up the burner," said Moody.

Rea asked about the ratio of glycerin to usable fuel. Probert said 20 gallons of waste oil yields 17 gallons of usable product, plus four gallons of methanol. He said the recycling center used about 500 gallons of fuel oil last year. Roof Bid

Ottum said he received an estimate of $9,000 from a representative of Cowette Construction to fix the roof on the old town hall.

About $56,000 has been raised to repair the hall. Once it is repaired, it will comply with state regulations and can be used as a meeting space. The selectmen decided to ask the company to give them a statement of the exact condition of the roof. Office Closed

The town office will be closed on November 11 for Veterans Day.