EDDINGTON – The vote was close, with five hands in the air making the difference, but residents authorized the sale of alcohol seven days a week at licensed businesses during Tuesday’s annual town meeting.

While the State Liquor Commission issues liquor licenses for consumption of liquor to licensed establishments, residents must vote to allow serving liquor in town.

Residents sanctioned alcohol consumption at restaurants several years ago, but official records of the vote are missing in Eddington and at the state, so another vote was needed, Town Manager Russell Smith said.

“The state issues the liquor licenses, but they have to be approved by the selectmen” before the application can go forward, he said.

In September 2004, the owner of Clewley Farm Restaurant asked the town for approval to serve beer, but without the official vote recorded, the malt liquor license application was shelved.

“We’ll probably be taking that up at our next meeting,” Smith said after the town meeting.

Approximately 55 residents were in attendance.

During the meeting, residents also:

. Endorsed spending $19,570 for general government; $218,041 for administrative salaries and expenses; $166,800 for highways; $224,505 for protection; $121,934 for human services; $6,000 for the capital improvement account; and $32,500 this year and next year to do a property revaluation.

. Amended the yard sale ordinance to require residents to get a free permit in order to hold a yard sale.

. Placed $3,000 in a surplus fund to pay for small expenses throughout the year.

. Moved $420,000 from the unappropriated surplus account to defray taxes.

. Agreed to take $10,000 annually from the Police Department reserve account and put it toward the cost of law enforcement through the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department for the next four years until the account is empty.

The town has been raising $10,000 a year to purchase a new police cruiser and has $40,370 in the account.

At the beginning of the meeting, Smith announced that municipal elections are June 7 and that nomination papers are available at the town office.

Incumbents Joan Brooks and Donn Goodwin are running for their selectman seats, and SAD 63 board of directors incumbent Claude Berthiaume is running for his seat. All three posts are for three-year terms.

Nomination papers must be returned to the town office by April 22.