GREENE – A slim majority at the annual town meeting on Saturday approved an agreement to participate in the state’s Pine Tree Zone program.

Several townspeople spoke against the agreement with the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments to administer the program.

Others said they were voting against the warrant article out of concern that the town would lose control of what types of businesses locate in Greene or because they wanted more information before they made a decision. They did not want the town to rush into an agreement.

Pine Tree Zones encourage investment by offering targeted, tax-based incentives for businesses that create jobs within designated zones.

“It will bring money to our community. It will generate jobs,” said Town Manager Stephen Eldridge.

In answer to a question, the town manager said, “You can’t control what types of businesses come to your town except by the planning process.”

Selectman Timothy Doyle stressed that with state reimbursement, there would be no cost to the town. “The only way we lose is by not participating,” he said.

“The best way to decrease taxes is by businesses coming to your community,” said town resident Brenda Theriault.

Several people questioned whether the town should give control over economic development to AVCOG.

“My experience is that anything AVCOG is involved in will cost us money,” said resident Sheldon Bubier. “This is a terrible thing for the town.”

Ron Gauthier expressed concern that private homes could be taken by eminent domain if businesses wanted the site to build on.

Gov. John E. Baldacci introduced the Pine Tree Zone program in early 2003. It was subsequently enacted by the Legislature last year. The program targets areas including parts of Androscoggin County where unemployment is relatively high, and wages are low.

The program offers incentives for new and expanding businesses, including state financing, 100-percent refund of corporate income and insurance premium taxes for five years and 50 percent for the next five, partial reimbursement of payroll taxes from new jobs created for up to 10 years, business equipment tax reimbursement, state assistance with job training, local option tax-increment financing to help fund project costs that would not be counted against existing TIFs and a 100-percent sales and use tax exemption for purchases of equipment and construction materials beginning in 2005.