WEST PARIS – After deciding earlier this month to forego purchasing a new bucket loader, selectmen Thursday put the issue back on the table.

That came after the board heard a presentation from Pete Adams of Beauregard Equipment of Scarborough offering a new Case loader for $129,900 with the first payment of $25,000 covered by the trade-in of the town’s old 1986 John Deere loader. The highway department considers that loader a liability when it comes to maintenance.

The next payment would be due in September 2008.

Adams said the machine would have a 3-year full guarantee.

He offered a 3-, 4- or 5-year payment plan. Payments ranged from $33,000 for a five year plan to $61,000 for three years at 8 percent interest.

Road Foreman Bill Keach said, “Our machine is getting old and tired so I think we should be thinking about doing something.”

Town Manager Donald Woodbury added, “Where there will be no addition to our 2007 budget I think we could purchase the loader and deal with the rest of the financing at the 2008 town meeting.”

The offer is good through the end of March, so Selectman Wade Rainey suggested holding off on a final decision until the board’s first meeting in March.

The rest of the board agreed.