WEST PARIS – Road Commissioner Bill Keach received authorization from selectmen Thursday allowing him to order an equipment package for the plow truck ordered earlier this month.

Town Manager Don Woodbury said the package will be ordered from the Howard Fairfield Equipment Co. of Skowhegan for $38,295. It includes a body, sander, plow, wing and installation accessories needed to ready the truck for winter road maintenance next winter.

The truck chassis is a 2004 Sterling and coming from Whited Equipment Co. of Auburn for $47,905. With the equipment package the total for the purchase amounts to $86,200.

At the March town meeting, $85,000 was approved by voters with the stipulation that a special town meeting be held later this spring to determine how the purchase would be funded.

Selectman Chairman Wade Rainey said no date has been set for that meeting, but one will be soon.

Selectmen also approved an increase of $25 per month, from $125 to $150, for Animal Control Officer Dannie Paine, effective immediately. Paine has been ACO for several years and requested the raise because gasoline and other costs are rising.

Money for the West Paris Athletic Association was released in the amount of $3,500, which will allow the association to get an early start installing a fence on the Little League field and begin maintenance. Some of the money will be used to purchase uniforms for players.

Appointments were made for open positions on the appeals board and the board of trustees for the West Paris Water District.

For the appeals board, David Walton was given a three-year term, Anita Sowell was appointed for two years and Phelps Poland received the nod for one year. The staggered terms prevent all three positions from opening at the same time.

Shane Poland was appointed to finish a term being vacated by veteran water district trustee Richard Bradeen. The appointment runs to the 2005 March town meeting at which time Poland has the option of running for a full 3-year term.