LISBON — Manufactured homes are now allowed in more areas after councilors amended the Zoning Ordinance on Tuesday to comply with a new state law.

The longest discussion during the roughly two-hour meeting was regarding how to move ahead with supporting emergency medical services.

Town councilors approved a change to allow manufactured homes, including trailers, in areas where single-family dwellings are allowed. The change was prompted by new state legislation aimed at increasing home affordability.

Previously, trailers were only allowed in rural open space 1, rural open space 2 and rural residential zones, which are large and lie in the north, east and southwest areas of town.

There are still certain design standards the town can place on manufactured homes, such as pitched roofs, permanent foundations and siding requirements, Town Manager Glenn Michalowski said. The changes do not apply to trailers in mobile home parks.

There was little discussion before councilors unanimously passed the changes on second reading.

Later in the meeting, councilors and Michalowski had a lengthy discussion about the future of emergency medical services in town. No action was taken.

Last Thursday, town officials met with Lisbon Emergency personnel to negotiate agreements for services, according to Michalowski.

Lisbon Emergency’s headquarters is seen Sunday at 42 Village St. Town councilors on Tuesday discussed the future of emergency medical service. Emma Meserve photo

Part of the agreement negotiated last year was that the town would help make the service more efficient and help regionalize it in return for the the town having more local control over the service, he said. Lisbon Emergency had the benefit of being funded by the public and work toward creating an interlocal, regional EMS agreement with Bowdoin and Bowdoinham.

However, at Tuesday’s meeting Michalowski recommended that councilors explore options other than an interlocal agreement, such as extending the contract with Lisbon Emergency for three years or make it a department and contract directly with Bowdoin and Bowdoinham. The interlocal agreement would allow Lisbon, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham to oversee Lisbon Emergency, making it a quasi-municipal department.

Michalowski said he thinks establishing an interlocal agreement could take a long time if the other stakeholders are not as enthusiastic about it as Lisbon officials are.

Chairman Harry Moore said the last discussions with Bowdoin and Bowdoinham officials did not go well and he does not think the interlocal agreement would work after the other two towns insisted on having equal shares in the management of the department.

Moore said he thinks Lisbon should have more shares because most of the calls originate in town. He floated the idea that Lisbon should have a 60% stake in decisions, while the other two towns have 20% each – or something similar.

Councilor JoJean Keller said there was a struggle among officials in the other two towns at that meeting about who gets what and how the interlocal agreement would be managed instead of Bowdoin and Bowdoinham officials looking at what their towns could get from the collaboration.

Councilor Raymond Robishaw said he wants officials to first consider the costs of each option before making a decision.

Operational components of the ambulance service need to be fleshed out before costs can be calculated, Michalowski said.

Moore said it is important that the current level of patient care be maintained and establish the best way to continue that care.

The costs are whatever they will be, Michalowski said,  whether the town contracts for the service or takes Lisbon Emergency on as a town department.

Taking it as a town department could lead to a lot of “unknowns” for the new public safety building plan, Larochelle said.

Moore supported making Lisbon Emergency a town-operated department three years ago, during which he was “raked over the coals,” he said. But now he thinks people are realizing that it is the best option. He said she does not expect there would be much pushback from Lisbon Emergency or the public now.

In other business, councilors approved municipal budget changes that will lower the property tax burden slightly, according to Finance Director Samantha Bryant. After councilors approved the budget June 18, adjustments were made to the town’s property and liability insurance, which resulted in a $21,648.70 reduction in the general fund budget.

However, it resulted in a $32,602.81 increase in the sewer fund budget, but there is enough in the sewer fund balance to cover the higher cost so it will not be passed on to property tax payers, according to Bryant.