The majority of increases are at the $5 level: air conditioner, furnace, washing machine or drier go from $15 to $20. Lawn mower riders go from $15 to $20 and push mowers from $8 to $10.

Portable television sets increase from $8 to $12 and disposing of television consoles will now cost $20.

A minimum charge of $5 will henceforth apply.

A Town Meeting approved transferring $92,000 to the Salt and Sand Account. Timely action since, even as the meeting was in session, a winter squall blew in a deep blanket of slippery snow that created havoc in surrounding towns but left Southbury relatively untouched.

Todd Thompson, a resident of Peach Orchard Road, an avid pilot and builder of model airplanes, is proposing that the L-shaped, approximately 65-acre parcel at the top of East Flat Hill Road, currently leased out by the town for cornfields, be converted to meadows that townspeople could enjoy for outdoor activities unrelated to the soccer, football and baseball genre fields in other parts of town.

Hiking trails could be cut to connect with the Audubon Bent of the River property. The Boy Scouts could camp and star gazers could gaze, birdwatchers could watch.

And approximately four acres could be set aside for a Model Airplane Airport for the Southbury Model Aircraft Club which up to now has been based at the Mitchell property on Purchase Brook Road.

Mr. Thompson brought his detailed proposal before the board and an audience of some 30 residents. However, it has to be said that little enthusiasm for the idea was expressed.

Heritage Village resident Judith Stevens, a long time birder, had little doubt that the noise generated by these airplanes would greatly disturb the eagles who nest along the Housatonic River and affect the Bent of the River's tranquility.

Ed Platt, a farmer whose stewardship preserves the fields at the top of the world in the Purchase, made a plea for maintaining the farming tradition and Jeff Manville, whose family has farmed there forever if not longer, suggested that no action be taken until a Master Plan for the Purchase had been drawn.

Sensing that enough had been said for one night, First Selectman Bill Davis closed discussion and said it would continue on the next agenda.

The Consent Agenda included approval of appointments:

Jenni-Rose S. Parker to the Historic Buildings Commission; James T. Smith as an alternate to the Planning Commission; John A. Bucciarelli to the Economic Development Commission; Terrence G. Modelewski to the Historic Tree Committee; Robert G. Barnes to the Lake Zoar Authority; Larry R. Ernst, Gary E. Gollenberg, Edward Wildman, Jr., Edward W. Gore, Jeffrey A. Manville, and Paul A. Palmer to the Rural Preservation Advisory Committee; Dwight A. Jensen to the South Britain Historic District Commission; Marietta E. Korsu, Anthony J. LaRocco and Michael L. Pratt to the Memorial Day Parade Committee; Scott P. Beecher as an alternate member of the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Listing of an "abandoned rabbit at Dunkin Donuts" in the Animal Control Officer's report included in the selectmen's packet, conjured up a modern-day Beatrix Potter scenario.

A call to Kristy Hine at the pound confirmed that indeed this white and black Netherland Dwarf had been found outside the Dunkin' Donuts at Playhouse Corner on a very cold day last week.

Not exactly sipping camomile tea but otherwise warm and comfy, she is now being cared for at the pound, telephone 203-262-0613.

There is also a six-year-old Cocker Spaniel and a short hair tiger cat. All three are available for adoption and are listed at southbury.petfinder.com.