Voters table measure

to merge fire and rescue departments under one chief.

POLAND – Town meeting voters approved an expansion of the public works garage site, but they tabled an article calling for the merger of the fire and rescue departments.

A total of 125 of the town’s 3,907 registered voters – or 3.2 percent – turned out for the town meeting Saturday. The meeting lasted five and a half hours, much shorter than last year’s 11-hour marathon meeting.

Property tax rates will stay the same as last year at $19 per $1,000 of valuation.

“I would like to personally thank you,” resident Richard Johnson said, eliciting a round of applause by expressing his appreciation of the modest mill rate to town and school officials.

Voters assented to an article that earmarks $1.5 million for expansion at the public works garage site. That article will expand on a proposal to build a sand and salt storage building. It also will add a groundwater protection project at the site, pay for engineering and environmental licensing and permitting, construct new school bus storage and, among other things, provide for expansion of the town public works garage to include an additional service bay for school buses.

Those improvements will expand on a $590,000 project to build a sand and salt storage facility that was approved in 2000.

Voters also approved an article calling for the establishment of a full-time recreation department. The estimated startup cost for the department is $144,820. Of that amount, $93,900 is expected to be recouped from user fees and fund raising.

Voters tabled an article proposing the merger of the fire and rescue departments under one chief. Resident Ted Ireland, who proposed tabling the article, said he and others felt rushed into voting on an article that did not have “too much thought.”

“I am very much opposed to this article as written,” said Poland Rescue Department Chief Melody Stevens. “There are too many unopened cans of worms here.”

She said she was concerned the merger would mean less money and equipment for the Rescue Department. The town will revisit the article at a special town meeting likely to be held sometime this summer, said Town Manager Richard Chick.

Voters also approved $45,000 for the support of the Alvan Bolster Ricker Memorial Library and Community House.

Among people presented with awards was Selectman Reginald “Bud” Jordan, who received a standing ovation and a plaque for his more than 40 years of service to the town.

John Plestina contributed to this report.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.