WILTON – The question of whether people 60 and older could do volunteer work for the town in return for property tax benefits merits more discussion, selectmen said Tuesday.

The board raised a few questions before asking the town manager to compile a list of possible community services and bringing the issue back to the board for more discussion.

Under a recent legislative act, towns can voluntarily elect to adopt an ordinance that allows people to swap services for property taxes. Participants could earn up to $750.

How to create the program without raising taxes for everyone else and whether the town could set its own age limit and financial criteria for participation were questioned as selectmen considered the program.

If services could be found that would lower the town’s budget, Selectmen Russell Black said he would be willing to consider it, but he was opposed to adding money to the budget for the program.

Chairman Paul Gooch asked why a person over 60 would be eligible even when they could afford to pay their taxes while someone 30 years old might have a need for the help.

Carolyn Smith of East Dixfield had asked Town Manager Peter Nielsen to investigate the law, L.D. 2202, and perhaps set up a program.

“This could be a real positive step for seniors that don’t want to sell out because of taxes,” she wrote to him.

Concerns about the amount of money to be set aside for the program were raised by the board and how many people could participate in the program.

Residents of St. Agatha in Aroostook County enacted an ordinance in 2007 that provides supplemental cash refunds to qualifying residents, Town Manager Peter Nielsen told the board.

St. Agatha raised $3,000 for the program for the first year and $1,500 for the second year with a plan to give a $300 benefit to each town volunteer, Nielsen said he was told by the St. Agatha town manager. So far, no one has used the program.

The board agreed that the program could help people, but the town would need to be specific about the type of services done and what tasks would be helpful while reducing expenses already in the budget.

The board agreed to continue the discussion at a future meeting.

A public hearing on whether the remains of a building at 376 Depot St. could be considered a nuisance was postponed until Oct. 21 due to a clerical error.

The Fire Department is preparing for more chimney and structure fires this season, fire Chief Sonny Dunham told the board. It provides free inspections of wood heating systems.

Concerns about the roof on the East Wilton Fire Station were raised by Dunham, who asked the board to get an assessment and estimate of cost to repair it. The department uses the building for storage.