OTISFIELD — Voters at town meeting unanimously approved a $1.3 million budget, agreed to pursue the construction of a town garage and approved funding for firefighter air packs.

The town’s operating budget is about 1 percent higher than last year’s and contains funds to give Town Office employees an average 4 percent raise and to give the road commissioner a $2,000 increase in salary.

About 100 residents packed the community hall on Route 121 to act on the 27-article warrant and re-elect Selectman Rick Micklon and and Road Commissioner Richard Dean to office. Board of Selectmen Chairman Hal Ferguson was re-elected chairman for another year.

Voters agreed through a nonbinding straw poll that the town should continue with the design and permitting process for the construction of a town garage. The recommendation was made by the Road Committee and backed up by the Finance Committee and selectmen.

“This is a necessary first step,“ said Selectman Len Adler, speaking as a Road Committee member.

Adler told voters that the committee looked at a half-dozen town garages in the area and selected the Buckfield Town Garage as a model. The design would accommodate a growing fleet of equipment, he said.

“As the town grows, the needs of the town will grow,” he told voters.

The design and permitting phase will be paid for with money in a reserve fund. Next year, town meeting voters will be asked to fund construction of the garage, estimated to cost about $350,000.

Voters also authorized selectmen to negotiate a five-year lease/purchase agreement to replace 12 firefighter air packs at a cost of $91,466, including interest. Voters raised $18,294 for the first payment.

In other business, voters:

* Approved an amendment to the Otisfield Building Ordinance that will put the State Building Code in place. Micklon said people would not see many changes.

* Approved a comprehensive plan, which provides direction for future growth. The approval means the town will have an easier time applying for state grants that require an approved plan in place.

* Approved an article to amend the Shoreline Zoning Ordinance to further restrict clear-cutting on less-than-2-acre sites.

* Approved $5,000 as the town’s share of repairing and maintaining the Thompson Lake Dam in Oxford, which pays $10,000 per year; three other towns pay $5,000.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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