Stonington fire crew bolstered

STONINGTON – Voters approved increases totaling $36,000 for the town’s fire department during the annual town meeting Monday.

They agreed to add $6,000 to the department’s operating budget to cover the cost of truck repairs. The item was a last-minute addition to the budget, according to Town Manager Richard Avery.

In a separate vote, residents also agreed to increase the allocation for the fire department reserve account from $10,000 to $40,000. The town regularly allocates $10,000 to build a reserve for future firetruck purchases, Avery said. The addition would fund the purchase of a Jaws of Life hydraulic extrication tool for the department.

The amount was not included in the official town meeting warrant because of a miscommunication between the fire chief and the town office, Avery said.

The additions to the budget increased the total municipal budget to $1,116,864.

Residents approved the rest of the warrant articles, including several ordinance changes. They also approved a new site plan review ordinance, which gives the planning board review authority over larger industrial and commercial development in town, and an amusement ordinance which governs live entertainment in establishments where alcohol is being served. The town voted last year to allow on-premises serving of alcohol.

Voters also favored providing health insurance for selectmen. The town already provides coverage for other town employees. Under the plan, the town will pay 60 percent of single coverage for each selectman. The individual selectmen will pay the balance and would pay the full amount for any expanded coverage for a spouse or family.

The coverage will cost $13,600 for the remainder of this year.

A proposal to expand the town’s sanitary district was defeated.

The only contested race in municipal elections this year was a three-way race for two seats on the district school committee. Stonington voters favored the incumbents, giving Mark Cormier 90 votes and Aimee Eaton, 121 votes. Challenger Donald Sargent received 49 votes.

When combined with the ballots from Deer Isle, the other town in the district, Cormier received a total of 500 votes; Eaton, 518, and Sargent, 323.