BUCKFIELD — Selectmen approved Tuesday night a public hearing to be held in August to discuss a proposed town official recall ordinance generated by a citizen petition.

Resident Tony Bachelder originated the petition, which was signed by 153 residents, seeking an ordinance to recall any elected town official.

Bachelder maintains that Selectman Chairman Floyd “Chip” Richardson, who was absent from the meeting, has a conflict of interest in rescue matters because he is assistant rescue chief.

Town Manager Glen Holmes had recommended the vote take place on Nov. 2 to coincide with national elections, but Selectman Robin Buswell said, “I feel that most people here in attendance of this meeting want the vote to be sooner.” He did not second the motion.

The board set the hearing  for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, at the Buckfield Junior-Senior High School. The public hearing will be followed by a referendum vote on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

At the July 6 Selectman meeting, Holmes reviewed the revised budget for the Rescue Department that he had worked out with Chief Lisa Buck. All the areas were listed where cuts were made including a $4,850 reduction in the chief’s gross salary line.

Selectman Richardson motioned for the revised budget to be approved.

Bachelder spoke at the July 20 selectman meeting calling for the resignation of Richardson. Bachelder said that he saw Richardson as having a conflict of interest and should not be voting on issues concerning the rescue, as he is assistant rescue chief and is close friends with the chief. Bachelder said, “I wish he were here tonight so I could tell him.”

The annual stipend for Buck is $2,120, the same as the fire chief’s stipend. She is paid $11.25 per hour in addition to her salary.

In other business, Fire Chief Steve Campbell said that he felt asking the volunteers to sign an ethics policy was something he was not inclined to do.

“I would have concerns enforcing this policy and we have agreed not to sign it,” Campbell said.

The board voted to distribute the policy to the committees, but not request that it be signed, and to give the committees two months to revamp the policy as needed.