STRONG — Selectmen agreed Tuesday to move ahead with repairing the stair lift at the Forster Memorial Building, which houses town offices and the library.

The motorized chair carries people to and from the ground floor to the basement-level dining room, kitchen and meeting rooms.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Jim Burrill said he talked to contractor Jeff Murphy, who could do the carpentry work for about $2,100.

Ver-Tran Inc. of Norway will disassemble and service the mechanical part of the chair for an estimated $3,000, Burrill said.

The work is expected to begin after Memorial Day.

Also Tuesday, Regional School Unit 58 Superintendent Susan Pratt said Strong will pay $9,299 less than last year toward the 2016-17 budget because the state is chipping in more money.

“Not only did (the state) put additional money back in, they gave us an additional $120,000,” she said.

Other factors include $100,000 more expected from Medicaid for student services and no increase in insurance from 2015-16.

The budget adopted by the board of directors is $9.19 million, which is $216,069 less than this fiscal year, according to the RSU 58 website.

“We have looked at every single line in that budget,” Pratt told selectmen, “… and we cut where we could.”

The district budget meeting and vote for Strong, Kingfield, Avon and Phillips residents will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 31 at Mt. Abram High School. A validation vote will be held June 14 at polling stations in the four towns.

Voters also will be asked if they want to continue with the current budget approval process.

In other matters, Selectman Mike Pond offered the possibility of the town entering a 99-year lease with the American Legion. Volunteers would clean up the field and make it safer for Cal Ripken baseball teams and other groups. The parking area would also be improved. Funds could come from the legal account.

Selectmen agreed to pursue the option and inquire about the legal fees.

It was announced that the Rev. Mike Senecal and volunteers for the monthly community dinners and food pantry will host a fundraiser dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the Forster Memorial Building. The dinner will be followed by musical entertainment and raffles. Donations are welcome and proceeds will  benefit the dinner program and the pantry.

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