LISBON – Voters made it through to article 29 of a 96-article town meeting warrant at the first session of town meeting Tuesday night, approving two Water Department bonding articles totaling $4.2 million following an extended debate.

An amendment by former Selectman Ed Wall to add a requirement that three public hearings be held on the larger of the two bonds, $3 million, failed. Wall also failed to gain support for another amendment that would have reduced the Water Commission chairman’s salary from $4,000 to $2,500 since the commissioner’s now have a full-time superintendent.

Approved was a total police budget of $1,048,687, which was amended to include an extra $3,000 for gasoline due to escalating fuel costs. A motion by Sgt. Harry Moore to increase the capital outlay portion of the budget by $5,000 for uniforms and equipment to establish a police color guard failed, but a second amendment proposed by another resident to transfer the money out of the undesignated surplus account was approved by a hand vote of 79-46.

Moore said he had sought funding for the color guard two years ago and was turned down after a resident said he would raise the needed funds.

Moore said he set up an account, but to date no funds have been deposited. The $5,000 will be used for uniforms, staffs, flags and rifles, Moore said.

In other action, interest on delinquent property tax was set at 6.5 percent, the maximum allowed by the state and payment due dates were set for Sept. 15, 2004, and March 15, 2005; and it was voted to transfer $475,000 from the undesignated fund balance to reduce property taxes.

Also approved, animal control, $59,863, of which $26,102 will come from taxes and the remainder from revenues; assessing and code enforcement, $100,130; general assistance, $50,978, of which $41,978 will be from taxation; legal, $27,000; town clerk’s office, $62,703; board of voter registration, $26,591; computer operations, $93,920; finance department, $173,848; town manager’s office, $112,875; insurance, $650,995; elected officials stipends, $16,550; Moxie parade, $2,500; Historical Society, $1,500.

With the exception of the police budget, voters followed Advisory Board recommendations.

Elected by nomination from the floor to 3-year terms on the Advisory Board were Trudy Duval, Charles J. Smith, Richard Gamache, and Angela Fortin, with 143, 99, 93, and 63 votes, respectively, defeating Randy Korsiak, 56. For a two year term, Carol Shimko defeated Randy Korsiak, 105-31. For a one-year seat, Ed Madden defeated Randy Korsiak, 77-64.

Outgoing Selectman Ed Madden was presented with a Community Service Award for his nine years of service on the board. He did not seek re-election as he is running for a state Senate seat. Town attorney Roger Therriault was deputy moderator as J. Michael Huston had another commitment.

The meeting will resume 7 p.m. Tuesday at the high school gym to begin work on article 30.