OXFORD — Following a spirited discussion, residents approved the Fire/Rescue Department’s recommendation to hire a total of eight fulltime employees with benefits at Saturday’s annual town meeting.

A standing-room crowd of 121 residents packed the Town Office. All budget items passed, but a few of them had their requests lowered by amendments offered by the voters. A few others faced multiple questions before eventually passing.

The Budget Committee supported the Fire/Rescue’s request of $1,262,019, but the Select Board suggested keeping the status quo within the department as it explores other options. The Select Board’s budget recommendation was for $142,124 less.

The hand vote was 70-35 in support of the higher amount after an amendment to accept Select Board’s figure failed by a huge deficit.

One resident noted that the Fire Department is the town’s only department that does not currently receive benefits.

Resident Tom Roach said he and his family would sleep better at night knowing that a fully trained full-time staff was available.

Fire/Rescue Chief Ashley Wax-Armstrong said her plan is to restructure the department with eight full-time fire fighters who are also EMT trained, instead of the current model of one full-time chief with mostly a per diem staff.

The department responded to more than 1.100 emergency calls, which 70% were rescue related.

Residents overwhelmingly rejected a suggestion by a divided Select Board to eliminate the in-person town meeting for a vote by ballot at the polls. Proponents thought it would increase participation since not everyone can attend Saturday’s annual meeting due to work commitments or child-care issues.

Opponents liked that town meetings provided residents the ability to hold open debates on the articles and make any line item changes on the fly. Voters could also learn about an issue before deciding how to vote.

“Do we want to have an increase in voters, even if they are ignorant about the issues,” one resident said.

A ballot question would only allow for a yes-no vote.

Some residents questioned the nearly $30,000 jump in the Recreation Department’s budget. Town Manager Adam Garland explained much of the increase was for hiring of a part-time employee who would work 20 hours per week to assist Director Kayla Laird.

The Transfer Station’s budget came under scrutiny for spending money this past year to add a bathroom at the facility and paying $150,000 for a new front-end loader, which was paid for out of the undesignated fund account. An attempt to cut expenditures to last year’s level failed.

Residents cut $30,000 from the Wastewater Treatment Facility Reserve Account to eliminate funds for a pump station generator and cut $40,000 from the Highway Vehicle Reserve Account. The town will have to dip into its reserves to purchase a 1½-ton truck and plow attachments.

In addition to those two cuts, voters followed the Budget Committee’s recommendation and slashed the Transfer Station Reserve Account from $24,000 to zero. The funds were supposed to go toward repairing a cracked retaining wall.

A proposed $3 million bond package to finance the construction and repairs to eight roads — Rabbit Valley Road, Number Six Road, East Oxford Road, Kohut Road, Sam Rowe Hill Road, Cross Road, Jenny Lane and Hebron Road – passed with little debate. Garland said the town would still look for grants to help lessen the bond amount.

The start of the meeting featured Maine State Sen. Rick Bennett presenting a state proclamation to retiring Selectmen Caldwell Jackson, honoring his 22 years of service on the board.

The election for municipal officials and MSAD 17 directors will be held Tuesday, June 10.

Henry Jackson served as moderator.