WILTON – Officials on Tuesday authorized Highway Foreman John Welch to take up to $9,000 from the winter highway account to equip the town’s sander with a plow and wing.

Welch said the move would increase the efficiency of the truck by enabling the town’s crew to plow and sand at the same time. It also gives the town an extra plow vehicle should one break down.

While Welch said he expects the cost to equip the sander will be about $7,500, officials agreed to make sure he had enough money available should the price change.

Town Manger Peter Nielsen recommended to selectmen that monies from payroll left over from the resignation of longtime Highway Foreman Ken Vining be used for the equipment purchase. When Vining resigned, Welch stepped into the position from his spot as a highway worker, leaving one full-time position still open.

About $14,000 is left in that account. There are no other funds available for equipment purchases. Selectmen said Welch can use no more than $9,000 from winter highway payroll to set up the sander with plow equipment. If for some reason the cost exceeds that amount he must return to the board for approval.

In other business, Mt. Blue Community Access TV Director JP Fortier presented officials with a budget proposal of $64,730. That is a decrease of $90 from last year’s station operating budget total. Nielsen said Wilton’s share of the costs to run the station will be $19,591. The funds come from franchise fees from residents who pay for BeeLine Cable Television.

Fortier said the station added a 15-hour-a-week assistant position to help with programming and to help maintain the station. That position will cost $6,650. He said the budget was “fine-tuned” so the additional position would not add to the total budget. The equipment purchase account has been cut in half. Fortier said as the station has grown, fewer equipment purchases have become necessary.

Officials decided they will wait to hear the outcome of a criminal proceeding before deciding whether they will file a small claims action against an individual who damaged a police cruiser.

This past August, someone entered the police station during the night. They took a police cruiser and drove it off a road. The person was arrested and later charged with crimes associated with the incident.

The town received an insurance check for $5,300, but the town’s insurance included a $1,000 deductible. Officials were considering filing the small claims action in order to recoup that amount.

Interim Police Chief Ed Leahy told Nielsen that the district attorney’s office plans to ask for restitution if the person is found guilty.

Officials agreed to wait for the outcome of that case before deciding whether to proceed with their own case.