LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen voted Monday to keep Union Street two-way, but with more parking and removal of a curb in front of a church. They plan to bring the entire issue to voters in the future.

Pentecostal Church Pastor Gary Roix previously asked the town to consider making Union Street, which is between Church and Pleasant streets, one-way, either all the time or just during worship services to allow more parking for his congregation.

Selectmen tabled action on the one-way proposal after a July public hearing that also looked at upping parking from nine spaces to 22 if most spaces were diagonal.

Concerns raised then included the street being heavily used as a bypass to the train for emergency vehicles and other traffic and residents on the road not being able to get into their driveways.

Roix also said during the hearing that additional parking is needed for downtown businesses.

Town Manager Martin Puckett came back with another proposal Monday that would gain three parking spaces if the road was kept two-way, two near the park and church and one in front of the Ouellette’s Furniture building that would make a total of 12 parking spaces.

Roix reiterated his point Monday saying he is also a member of the Livermore Falls Downtown Betterment Group and that there is a need for parking downtown for businesses on Union, Main and Church streets

He also noted that some people at the last meeting said one-way streets are not desirable, and that there are several towns that have one-way streets as main ways.

Roix said more parking would draw more businesses and people to the area. The church, he said, brings more people into the community than some businesses.

Selectboard Chairwoman Louise Chabot said it is a difficult decision. Her biggest concern is for safety, she said, and she is also concerned about people not able to get in or out of their driveways.

Selectmen concurred that it was a heavily used street and asset for emergency vehicles and agreed to have a straw poll at a town meeting.

Roix and his wife, Betty-Jo, both said they appreciate all that has been done and are willing to work with the town to make it work.