OTISFIELD – Anyone building a home in town in the future will be given a letter suggesting they have an outside electrical shutoff switch installed in case of fire, officials agreed Wednesday night.

The Planning Board, Ordinance Committee, Board of Selectmen and Fire Department reached the agreement after hearing arguments for and against the proposal. The measure takes effect Nov. 1.

Fire Chief Mike Hooker had originally proposed an ordinance that required the installation of the switch in case of fire. In serious fire, firefighters must call Central Maine Power because of the dangers inherent in using water while electricity is live in a home. However, because of Otisfield’s rural setting and distance from CMP, the letter states that “the time it takes for CMP to respond to the call, arrive on the scene, and disconnect power to your site is simply too late for the structure and its inhabitants.”

The proposal was met with opposition by law enforcement officials, according to Lenny Adler, former chairman of the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board.

“Law enforcement was worried that a disgruntled ex-boyfriend, for example, could shut off power to an ex-girlfriend. Or an intruder could do the same,” Adler said.

An agreement was reached to have code enforcement officials hand out a letter to anyone building a home suggesting they have an outside switch installed. The switch would be enclosed in a box that would be locked with the homeowner being the only key holder. Should an emergency merit disconnection of power, firefighters could use bolt cutters to open the box.

On Wednesday night at the meeting of the Board of Selectmen, once the letter to homeowners was introduced, Chairman Mark Cyr’s concern was how to distribute it.

Rick Micklon suggested that code enforcement officials hand them out when construction begins on a new home. Since the suggestion would not be retroactive to current home owners, Hal Ferguson stated the installation of the switch “would only affect new home owners.”