RANGELEY — The Board of Selectmen elected Dave Burgess as the board’s new chairman at Tuesday’s meeting.

Burgess told the board that the town would need the support of an active board, as it is going into transition due to the selection of a new town manager.

Gary Shaffer was elected vice chair.

Joanne Chapman and Harold Schaetzle were unanimously appointed to serve as Rangeley’s members of the RSU No. 78 School Board for terms ending on June 30, 2014.

Joseph George and Brian St. Louis were reappointed to the Planning Board.

At fire Chief Tim Pellerin’s request, the board approved acceptance of a HAZMAT decontamination tent from Franklin County at no cost to the town. The tent, which holds approximately 20 people, has a floor and a kerosene heater. Since the tent is excellent for use on ice, Pellerin said, it would make a good command center for winter operations.

In an equipment update, Pellerin said the No. 2 tank truck in Oquossoc was removed from service because of axle and brake problems. The right side of the front axle I-beam has a stretched-out kingpin bore, so a new pin would still be loose. A replacement axle is needed, but because of the age and model of the truck, Pellerin said a replacement will probably be difficult to find.

Though repairs are estimated to cost 40 percent of this year’s maintenance budget, Pellerin would like to continue the search for parts and use the truck for two or three more years until it is eligible to be replaced through a federal grant.

The board voted to sign the annual appointments of the airport manager, code enforcement officer, emergency management director, fire chief, and General Assistance administrator to terms that will expire June 30, 2014. The board also voted that the road commissioner and town manager positions will expire on July 19 of this year, since both positions are held by Tim Kane, who is leaving Rangeley on that date.

In a public hearing before the meeting, the board heard from several residents of High Street, who supported designating their street as a one-way artery. The most common complaints were heavy commercial truck traffic and excessive speed. The biggest concern was maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the tree-lined residential street.

The board assured residents that its concern is to stay within the current confines of the paving and to protect the trees. Board member Nate Nichols has spoken with certified arborist Jim Proctor Jr., who has offered to inspect the trees along the route. Shaffer added that any diseased trees that are removed should be replaced with something larger than standard saplings so the growth recovery will be quicker.

Shaffer read a letter from a pair of High Street residents who opposed the one-way change, saying it would be an inconvenience to residents and merchants.

After explaining that speed limits are set by the state on the advice of the towns, Shaffer said that the town could erect “Children At Play” signs. He proposed that further discussion of the direction change be postponed until planned repairs to the street’s surface and drainage are completed.

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