PARIS – Voters had no problem authorizing the purchase of a used 1993 firetruck for no more than $199,000 at a special town meeting Monday night.

Meeting in the fire station, residents voted unanimously to enter either a five-year or seven-year lease/purchase agreement to buy the truck with a 75-foot ladder.

The five-year deal would require a yearly payment of $45,000, and the seven-year deal would require paying more than $34,000 per year, Town Manager Sharon Jackson said.

Jackson said the lease would affect the tax rate by 40 cents per $1,000 of property assessment.

Voters also approved $600,000 for road and sidewalk improvements around the new Paris Elementary School on High Street.

At the last town meeting, voters approved a $450,000 project and agreed to spend $150,000 of town money for improvements such as building a 5-foot sidewalk and paving the shoulders and traffic lanes. The state agreed to chip in about $300,000.

But since then, costs for materials have shot up, and the estimated cost is now $600,000. The Maine Department of Transportation, in turn, added more money, bringing its contribution to $402,000.

SAD 17 will also pay $48,000 from school construction funds.

Superintendent Mark Eastman said the project would increase the safety of children walking to school. The new elementary school will open in February for kindergarten through sixth-grade pupils. The sidewalk will likely be finished next September.

During the regularly scheduled meeting, selectmen also approved a bid of $4,800 from MER Caretakers to patch the Moore Park gazebo.

They also approved the purchase of a speed trailer for $6,287 that will alert drivers of their speed.

Both items were approved by voters at the June town meeting.

Also, Jackson shared the results of an informal survey distributed Election Day. It asked:

• What do you think the town should do with the old fire station on Pine Street? Sell: 151. Keep: 83.

• Do you think the town should have a comprehensive plan? Yes: 204. No: 36.

• Do you think the town should have zoning? Yes: 156. No: 92.

• Do you think the town should vote on the budget by referendum or at the annual town meeting? Referendum: 113. Town meeting: 136.

There was no comment by the board members on the results.

Jackson said, “That’s just some info for us.”