Farmington residents will have the final say on the proposed addition of four full-time firefighters to the town’s fire and rescue department at Town Meeting Monday.

The proposal, made by Fire Chief Terry Bell, will bring the department’s budget to $434,492, an increase of $32,979 over last year’s budget, which included no full-time positions within the department except for Bell’s.

Fire Chief Terry Bell listens to questions during an informational meeting last week about his proposal to add four full-time firefighters to the volunteer department, which would add more than $32,000 to the budget. Residents will vote on the proposal at Town Meeting Monday night. Staff file photo by Michael G. Seamans

Selectmen, while acknowledging that the department has had staffing problems in recent years, recommended a status quo budget of $401,513, including no full-time firefighters. The Budget Committee accepted Bell’s proposal as their recommendation for the budget.

Bell has said repeatedly during review of the budget that adding full-time firefighters is his only solution to the department’s shrinking volunteer roster, which has an average age of 53.

“I, as the fire chief, can’t guarantee (we) can respond as we should,” Bell said at an informational meeting on the issue last week.

The Fire Department article is 11th on a 43-article warrant that will be put before residents for a vote Monday. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Community Center.

Residents will be voting on the 2016 proposed budget. Selectmen are recommending a $5,388,052 budget, a 1 percent increase over last year’s budget. The Budget Committee is recommending a $5,420,031 budget for 2016.

An election for five open municipal positions also will be held Monday. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Community Center.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Joshua Bell and Selectman Michael Fogg are running unopposed for re-election to their seats, each for a three-year term. There are also three seats open on the Regional School Unit 9 Board of Directors.

Ryan Morgan, appointed by selectmen in November to serve as an interim board member, replacing Claire Andrews, is running uncontested for the year remaining of her term.

Nancy Porter, appointed by selectmen in December to finish Yvette Robinson’s term on the board, is not seeking re-election.

Board member Ken Charles also is not seeking re-election to the board. Scott Erb and Doug Dunlap are running unopposed for the two open seats being vacated by Porter and Charles.

Lauren Abbate — 861-9252

labbate@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate

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