MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council has approved the warrant calling voters to the polls next Tuesday, June 14, to act on the town’s $2.4 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

It will be the first year that townspeople approve their budget by a referendum ballot.

Voters in November approved a charter change that replaced the traditional town meeting with a public hearing on the proposed budget, followed by a referendum ballot that this year contains 34 questions.

Polls will be open in the gymnasium at the municipal building from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available, according to Town Clerk Lisa Palmer.

In other business Monday, the council agreed to terminate the town’s lease agreement with Regional School Unit 16 for the use of the former Head Start building as headquarters for the Adult Education program.

RSU 16 officials decided to relocate Adult Education to vacant space in the Elm Street School rather than move into the Head Start because renovation costs were estimated to be less.

The council agreed to allow Adult Education to use its current space on the third floor of the municipal building during July and August, giving RSU 16 time to prepare space at the Elm Street School.

Town Manager John Hawley noted that the town library’s move to the municipal building would take place the end of September or the beginning of October. The town’s summer recreation program will take place at the Head Start building this summer.

Hawley also reported that the Fire Department’s new brush truck, built by department volunteers, has been put into service and the 1965 Jeep has been put out to bid.

Bidding on the 1965 Jeep, which is on view in the Fire Department parking lot, closes this Friday.

The council awarded the bid for the construction of a new salt shed to Tom Verrill, builder, of Mechanic Falls. Verrill’s bid of $53,500 was the lower of two received. The award was made pending approval at the budget referendum vote on June 14.

The council also approved a liquor license for Roscoe Grant’s new establishment, The Bog Hoot, on Maple Street.

Hawley noted that plans for this year’s Community Day are coming together well and, in fact, the “day” has expanded to include a number of programs Friday evening, June 24, in addition to a full complement of programs on Saturday, June 25.

Among the new things this year are a car show on the Town Office grounds on Saturday, additional food and game vendors, a couple’s competition and additional nonprofit groups with their own fundraisers.