BUCKFIELD — The proposed wind ordinance passed by a large majority at the annual town meeting on Saturday. Approximately 70 residents participated.

The ordinance calls for a 1-mile setback and limits any sound output. James Parker from the Planning Board spoke for its passage saying the ordinance was for industrial-sized windmills.

The Board of Selectmen recommended that the ordinance be rejected and favored a sound restriction rather than the 1-mile setback.

Selectman Chip Richardson said he felt the ordinance would restrict new businesses coming to town because of the sound limitation.

The question was posed and approved before more comments could be taken by moderator Terry Hayes.

One third of the meeting time was taken up with the Rescue Department budget, which was proposed to be approximately $10,000 over last year’s budget. An article was amended to fund $131,160 instead of the proposed $142,035. The article passed as amended.

The following article on the Rescue budget, to upgrade the equipment and personnel training to the emergency medical technician paramedic level, passed as recommended. With the upgrades, there will be less need for calls to other towns to assist.

Rescue Chief Lisa Buck explained that if there is an emergency now that requires a licensed EMT paramedic, they ask PACE or another service to assist. That EMT paramedic then meets the Buckfield unit and gets into the ambulance and gives the necessary care to the patient. The patient remains in the Buckfield ambulance.

When asked why the level of calls had decreased, Buck said she had no way of knowing , but calls had decreased last year. Buck said that Rescue brings in revenue by charging insurance companies.

Some residents said there was no need to give a 3 percent raise to the Rescue Department. Town Manager Glen Holmes said the selectmen had voted to give all town employees a 3 percent raise.

Several people questioned why the town employees were getting raises when many of the residents were losing their jobs or getting no raises.

It was unclear whether the $10,000 cut would remove the Rescue raise because selectmen determine how the budget is to be spent.

Pearly Lovejoy pointed out that Buck has been writing and getting grants.

The department has already received a federal grant for nearly $92,000 and Buck is applying for more.

Buck said she plans to order two refurbished defibrillators. When questioned why she needed two, Buck replied that with two ambulances, it is required.

When asked why the town needed two ambulances, Buck said there were at least 20 times last year when second calls came in while one unit was out.

All of the other 42 articles passed with little comment. The total new approved municipal budget is approximately $1.9 million.