POLAND — Groundbreaking for the planned upgrade and expansion of the town’s Fire-Rescue Station will occur before the snow flies; at least, that’s the schedule Fire Rescue Chief Mark Bosse told selectmen Tuesday that he was pushing for.

“We’re really thankful for the support shown at town meeting,” Bosse said.

Voters at the April 7 town meeting approved a $2.3 million plan to upgrade and expand the town’s Fire-Rescue Station on Aggregate Road.

The size of the building will be about doubled, expanding from the existing 7,392 square feet to 14,524 square feet.

Bosse said he has prepared a draft request for proposals that he intends to take to the Building Committee as soon as possible.

Noting that winter construction can add to costs, Selectman Larry Moreau suggested Bosse might be able to step up his schedule by taking the existing site plan to the Planning Board immediately, and perhaps shave off a month.

Selectmen also discussed how to proceed with a second initiative approved at the town meeting — the vote that the town should look into acquiring the so-called “Walker Property” that is between the Town Hall and Ricker Library.

Town meeting voters gave selectmen authority to spend up to $180,000 to acquire the property, provided the selectmen and Budget Committee could work a deal that they deemed appropriate and in the town’s best interest.

Acquiring the property was called a “strategic opportunity” — the property being on the market — providing the chance to unify town holdings and solve some of the area’s parking problems.

Selectmen agreed to call a meeting on April 24, to be held in executive session with members of the town Budget Committee present, to establish a course of action.

In other business, selectmen authorized Recreation Director Scott Segal to enter into an agreement with the owners of Shaker Hill Nursery to lease space for a community garden; signed a resolution naming the Poland Spring Preservation Society as recipient of the town’s Spirit of America Foundation award; and approved by-laws for the Poland Trail Committee.

Selectmen also awarded the bid for a new fire/rescue chief’s vehicle to Emerson Chevrolet, for a cost not to exceed $35,500 and voted to accept the Irving Corp. bid to supply the town’s LP gas for the next year at a fixed price of $2.125 per gallon. Irving’s bid was the lowest of four received.

Selectmen also accepted for further consideration the town’s economic development adviser John Cleveland’s report on alternative plans to extend the new South Village water system to properties on Shaker Hill.

Cleveland presented three options that provided service to the top of the hill; however, selectmen requested he provide figures on a fourth scenario.

As the meeting was the first for the new board following municipal elections, which saw the departure of former Chairman Erland Torrey, the board chose Wendy Sanborn to serve as its chair and Larry Moreau to be vice-chairman for the coming year.

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