TURNER — The Board of Selectmen will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday to review and vote on a warrant for a special town meeting this month.
The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at Leavitt Area High School.
One article will ask if residents will vote to spend up to $431,588 for the Rescue Department.
Another will ask residents to appropriate $59,227 from undesignated surplus and $60,000 from overlay, and transfer $40,000 from the paving and construction account to fund the increase to the department’s budget, which was approved at the April 5 town meeting.
Article 3, concerning contracted rescue, states the amount is not to exceed $462,992.
On Monday, the board voted to accept the heating oil rack bid from Murray Oil and Propane.
Selectmen voted to hire Washburn and Son Excavating to replace the septic system at Boofy Quimby Memorial Center. Chairman Kurt Youland said they should add risers to the tank. He also said there was work to do on the inside of the tank to close it, which was an extra expense.
Public Works Director Jack Moultrie reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency project on Fish Street is complete, except for the plantings. He said it was an outstanding job.
Town Manager Kurt Schaub said he thought the town’s part of the project’s cost would be close to $30,000.
The board accepted a policy for public record requests. There are certain guidelines, such as filling out a form and any fees that may be incurred in obtaining requested records.
Schaub also informed selectmen of a Board of Appeals public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, to consider a variance application. It concerns a home under construction with a foundation 13.5 feet within the required road setback.
Schaub said the Town House on Route 117 had raccoon and squirrel damage and the chimney has shifted. The board briefly discussed ways to fix the chimney or the possibility of tearing it down. No decision was made.
The Fire Department is going to put the old International tank truck out to bid. Offers are due by Oct. 20.
Rescue Chief Toby Martin reported he is still having difficulty with staffing. There were 11 motor vehicle accidents this month, and his staff still does not have proper protection, he said.
Martin said he was hired to do what was right for the citizens of the town. He has the emergency vehicles up to inspection standards. He said he wants to maintain paramedic coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so staffing is important. He needs three people if they have to go as far as Leeds at night, especially if it is a bad emergency, he said.
The board discussed the fact that Leeds and Hartford were not paying their fair share of the emergency care costs.
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