CHESTERVILLE – Volunteer firefighters here will soon see some income for their duties, after voters overwhelmingly backed raising $8,850 for Fire Department pay at the town’s Monday night meeting.

The article was one of the most hotly debated of the night with many voters concerned about how the money would be distributed.

“It’s up to the selectmen to dole out how the money is spent,” said State Fire Marshal investigator Eddie Hastings, who, as the town’s former fire chief, spent two years researching the pay plan.

The Fire Department also received $22,000 for maintenance – $3,000 more than selectmen recommended. Hastings said it costs that much to run the department and pay for equipment. He said the department is using equipment such as turnout gear for up to 10 or more years past its life expectancy.

After a few voters spoke against short-changing a department they’ve come to depend on, a motion was made and accepted to bump funding up to what the department requested.

The Fire Department did, however, make one concession in light of economic conditions. It had requested $5,000 for “updating.” Selectmen recommended $4,000.

“We understand times are tough, and will make due with $4,000,” Hastings said.

Voters unanimously approved raising the tax levy of $408,455 to cover town expenses, an increase of about $15,000 from current spending. They also approved more than $200,000 for summer and winter road work. That is in addition to block grant funding that will be split between summer and winter roads.

In other business, incumbent Selectman Craig Stickney was unseated in his quest for another three-year term by Orin Knowles II.