MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council on Monday authorized Deputy fire Chief Matt Fifield to continue working with Poland fire Chief Mark Bosse on a plan for Poland Rescue to be the primary responder for ambulance calls from 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Fifield told the council that Mechanic Falls has few EMTs on its squad and doesn’t have qualified in-town personnel available for coverage during daytime work hours. Furthermore, he noted that the Mechanic Falls rescue vehicle isn’t licensed for patient transport, except for major emergencies.

Fifield said he and Bosse have discussed the proposal and determined that it could serve the needs of both towns.

“Poland is a lot closer than United Ambulance, and certainly such a move will improve daytime response and, if we form a partnership with Poland, could help us improve our training and skills, develop a more complete rescue plan,” Fifield said.

While giving Fifield the go-ahead to proceed, the council said Town Manager John Hawley should be involved in discussions in the event that problems, such as troubled relations with United Ambulance or unexpected cost increases, arise.

The council also met with members of the town Budget Committee, along with town’s representatives to the RSU 16 committee, in order to review the status of next year’s proposed school budget.

It would appear, school committee member Mary Martin told the council, that the proposed budget would have minimal impact on the town’s property tax rate. Taxes on a $100,000 Mechanic Falls property would go up less than a dollar a month.

Following a brief public hearing, the council approved amendments to the town’s sign ordinance that would permit on-site business signs up to 50 square feet on each face, up from a previous maximum of 32 square feet.

The council also agreed to meet with Poland’s Board of Selectmen to discuss a formal agreement for sharing public works personnel and equipment. This meeting is set for 7 p.m. May 14 in Mechanic Falls.

In his report, Hawley told the council that it had been determined that the cause of the fire that damaged the town’s new wood pellet burner earlier this month was a fan that drew ash into the pipe, causing it to plug up. This, in turn, made the burner overheat.

He said damage was estimated at about $1,000 and would be covered by insurance. Oil will be used to heat the municipal complex until next fall.