FARMINGTON – Some changes to the traffic ordinance were accepted by selectmen Tuesday.

The board agreed to raise fines for parking over the two-hour limit from $5 to $10 and parking in front of a fire hydrant or too close to a corner from $10 to $20, but balked at raising the penalty for parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities.

The board approved the articles 3-2 except the increase for handicap parking to $200. Some selectmen wanted to see more facts about the rate of infractions now before agreeing to the increase.

While the state statue has risen to $200, changing the town’s ordinance from $100 to $200 didn’t sound fair since there doesn’t appear to be a problem with it, officials said.

Some violations involve people who forget to place the handicap placard on their mirrors, said police Chief Richard Caton.

Two-thirds of the county communities abide by the state statue now at $200, said Selectman Dennis Pike, who favored keeping the fine uniform with others in the county.

Other changes approved involved limiting parking on Church Street to two hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on both sides of the street from the Children’s Task Force to Main Street.

There will be no overnight parking from Main Street to the Children’s Task Force and a handicapped space will be added in front of Church Street Commons.

No parking on the north side of Middle Street from the intersection of High and Middle streets will be increased to prohibit parking from High to the entrance to the SAD 9/UMF parking lot. Two parking spaces for people with disabilities will be cut to one and will be near the American Legion Building across the street on Middle.

In other business, the board accepted with regret and appreciation the resignation of Francis Orcutt from the school board.

The selectmen received two letters expressing interest in serving in Orcutt’s seat, one from Joyce Morton who completed her term on the school board with the meeting Tuesday night and one later Tuesday from Fred O. Smith.

The board decided to allow time for others to apply and set a deadline of 5 p.m. July 7. The board will consider applications at the July 8 meeting and make a decision.