MINOT – Town Clerk Nikki Verrill told selectmen Monday night that voters supported the local referendum question that authorizes borrowing up to $55,000 to pay for a new water system at Minot Consolidated School.

The questions passed by a vote of 1,061 to 382.

Should the town borrow the $55,000 through a state bond program, the state Department of Education would forgive $32,626 of the bond, leaving Minot responsible for the remaining $22,374.

The money would be used for a water filtration/aeration system and a heated 10-by-20-foot enclosure for it, to reduce the presence of arsenic and radon in the water.

At this point, school officials are still waiting to learn whether it would be less costly to use water from the well at the town garage. However, selectmen approved signing preliminary paperwork to keep the town in a position to tap into the state bond and grant program.

The goal is to have the school’s water meet all state and federal standards.

In other business, Fire Chief Steve French told the board that he had received official word that Minot has been awarded a $20,679 federal Department of Homeland Security grant.

He said most of the money, more than $13,000, will be used for a fire communications system, which provides firefighters with headset communication devices. The remainder of the money will be used to purchase three Honda generators and eight carbon cylinders for the firefighters’ air supply systems.

Road Manager Arlan Saunders told selectmen that he is still trying to find an engineer to test a condition and composition of materials at the base of Pottle Hill School Road.

Noting that his first choice for engineer will be out of state until mid-December, Saunders said he hoped Chuck Starbird, the road’s developer, and his lawyer, Scott Lynch, wouldn’t think the town had dropped the ball.

Selectmen suggested that Saunders send letters to all interested parties informing them of efforts to date.

Saunders also told the board that he had received an inquiry from the Hebron Volunteer Fire Department, asking whether it could purchase diesel fuel from the town of Minot.

“The Fire Department previously bought fuel from Hebron Academy but they no longer have any buses,” said Saunders.

Selectmen gave Saunders the go-ahead to make any arrangements that might be needed.

Town Administrator Gregory Gill noted that the town’s comprehensive plan update committee has scheduled two “visioning sessions” to hear townspeople’s ideas and views on matters that will help shape the town’s future over the next 10 to 20 years.

The meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 and Dec. 2 at at the Minot Consolidated School.

Town Treasurer Connie Taker reminded the town’s college students that applications for the Arthur Harris and Leonard Simion/Elsa Fortin Simion scholarships are available at the town office. The deadline for application submission is Jan. 10.

Verrill also reminded dog owners that this is the time of year they should be relicensing their dogs.

Selectmen noted that the town office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day.