WOODSTOCK – Selectmen this week scheduled a special meeting to be held starting at 3 p.m. Friday in the town office meeting room to finalize the 2007 municipal budget proposal.

“It looks like there will be a slight increase … but I think the increase will be minimal and not very significant,” Town Manager Vern Maxfield said.

He said he added $30,000 to the town’s road account but most other accounts are staying mostly as they were last year.

“I will present my final recommendations Friday,” he said, “and if the selectmen approve the proposal I will begin preparing the 2006 town report to get it ready to go to the printers.”

Selectmen on Tuesday also authorized the Fire Department to begin subscribing to a different insurance company, which would cover firemen when an emergency calls them out.

Maxfield said insurance carried now by the department only covers firefighters from the time they are toned out to a fire until they return to the station. The insurance being considered would cover each from the time they are toned out and continue to cover them for two additional days.

Selectmen believe the extra coverage is necessary because problems occasionally arise at the scene of a fire after the fire’s been extinguished.

The cost of the insurance is minimal at $50 to $80 per person, depending on responsibilities while at a working fire.

In other business, Maxfield told the board that the town’s 2006 audit is complete and finances are in order.

An energy audit is being planned to be carried out next week for the town garage complex.

Selectmen also approved spending $3,700 for new lighting and ceiling fans in the town office as well as upgrading the wiring. That project will be done later this spring.