FARMINGTON – Voters took action on a variety of issues Monday during a slow-moving town meeting, while electing four people to top municipal boards.

Incumbent Jon Bubier and Nancy Porter were elected to serve three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen. Bubier received 141 votes, Porter 110, Robert Vallette 78, and Ryan Morgan 58.

School board candidates Claire Andrews and Robert Flick were elected to fill the two positions open on the board.

During the town meeting, voters tended to favor the proposed figures recommended by the Budget Committee and selectmen.

Requests to amend and reduce the Police Department, Public Works and a legal reserve account prompted discussion, but voters ultimately decided to settle on the original amounts requested.

William Crandall noted that the Police Department showed a $66,000 surplus from last year, and he moved to reduce the department’s request of $976,509 down to $937,409.

Town Manager Richard Davis explained that the surplus resulted from the departure of an employee last year, leaving budgeted salary that was not used.

A reduced budget would mean losing an officer and making other cuts within the department, police Chief Richard Caton said, at a time when additional duties are expected in order to keep services stable.

The $976,509 requested by Caton was accepted by voters.

Selectmen recommended $930,920 for the Public Works Department, which included $15,000 for an equipment reserve account. Porter motioned to keep the budget at last year’s amount, $872,500, while giving new Director Denis Castonguay time to prove he can balance a budget, she said.

The past fiscal year was a difficult one, with a harsh winter and projects that were over budget, Davis said.

Prices for fuel, salt and the need to replace plows and equipment, some of which are 30 years old, moved voters Monday to agree to the requested amount of $930,920.

The need for $16,000 for a legal account reserve fund was questioned by Janet Mills. Ongoing legal issues and potential cases that leave the town needing to defend itself were the reason for an increase to the account, Davis explained. Voters agreed to the $16,000.

Voters also agreed to an increased amount for the Farmington Public Library, largely to help provide health insurance for library employees.

The town and library have been fortunate to have employees who could depend on their spouses’ insurance, the library’s Richard Morton told the audience. He explained that in order to hire the desired personnel, insurance is needed and will be provided even if the town voted the increase down, he said.

As the meeting neared the end of the second hour, voters had only moved through 16 of the 41 articles.