MINOT — At the annual Town Meeting on Saturday, voters approved all expenditure articles of the $2.2 million municipal budget, which included creating the position of a full-time fire chief.

Prior to taking a secret ballot on the fire chief position, the 50 voters in attendance heard volunteer Fire Chief Dean Campbell cite the amount of additional work required.

Campbell said the position includes keeping up with federal and state regulations, overseeing training, ensuring fire apparatus passes inspection, grant writing and some code enforcement obligations. He said the chief would also be a certified Emergency Medical Technician who would be available during the day.

“We got to be smart of what we do here,” said Selectman William Perry,  adding the town should not be put at risk with its $2 million worth of fire equipment. It needs to show support to the people who “dedicate their time to come to our rescue, for it takes a different person to run into a fire while the rest of us are running the hell out.”

George “Buster” Downing backed the position as well, saying we “don’t have to look too far to see what’s happening around us,” mentioning the deadly Oct. 25 mass shooting in Lewiston and the recent Minot house fire when a sheriff’s deputy was wounded by a gunshot.

Downing said it’s time we recognize this fire department and the people the town needs on it.

Campbell added he does not want the job, but will remain on as interim until a plan to hire a chief is put into place.

The article to hire a fire chief won by a 42 to 8 margin.

In other business, the purchase of a plow and pickup truck for the Highway Department was approved. Students at Minot Consolidated School were asked to propose a name for the town’s most recent plow truck, which were then narrowed to two choices: Snowadactyl and Frostbite. Voters chose Frostbite 28 to 19.

Voters also passed the measure to move $100,000 from Undesignated Fund Balance to a Minot Consolidated School Reserve account in the event the Regional School Unit 16 board of directors ever decide to close the school.

Minot’s 222nd Annual Report was dedicated to David E. Gilpatric, a founding member of the Minot Historical Society who was an active participant with the West Minot Grange for over 50 years and served 34 years in the Maine National Guard. Gilpatric died in August.

The Spirit of America Award was also presented to the Minot Cemetery Commission for its commendable service to the town.

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