NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen voted 2-1 Monday to give themselves the authority to approve all changes in orders for the new fire station, rather than allow a 10-member committee to do it.

Vice Chairwoman Linda Chase and Steve Libby voted for the motion; Dale Maschino opposed it.

Libby, who is the board’s designee to the Fire Station Committee, brought the issue to the board’s agenda.

“This has nothing to do with lack of confidence. I have complete confidence in the makeup of the committee,” he said.

Chase said the approval would provide a “check and balance that should be in place.”

Roger Levasseur of the Fire Department requested the board table the issue until the next meeting when there would be a full board that includes two new members expected to be elected June 10.

Board Chairman Lenora Conger was absent Monday; Maschino, who has been on the Fire Station Committee that has met for four years, is not seeking re-election to a third term; and a fifth seat is currently vacant.

No action followed his request.

The committee is comprised of four members of the New Gloucester Fire and Rescue Department, four public members, one selectman and the town manager.

Voters authorized selectmen to spend $1.9 million from a contingency fund for a clerk of the works and financing costs and design changes for the new fire station on Route 100 near Pine Tree Seeds.

Fire Chief Gary Sacco said he was disappointed that the issue was not discussed with the Fire Station Committee first.

“I hoped you folks would have enough confidence in the committee that we will do the right things,” he said.

In other business, the board authorized sending requests for proposals for fuel tank containment units, public works garage energy improvements, a dump truck cab and chassis, a snow plow with wing, a dump body/sand spreader and a three-quarter ton pickup truck.

And, the board agreed to close the town office window at 4 p.m. June 30 in order to wrap up the 2008 fiscal year books, but other offices in the Town Hall will remain open until 7 p.m.