HARRISON – Assistant Deputy Chief Dale Laplante of the Fire Department got approval from selectmen Thursday night to apply for a $38,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation.

Laplante told selectmen the money would be used to purchase a Lifepak monitor defibrillator for the department. The equipment would make it possible to monitor carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which is something rescue personnel currently can detect only from the symptoms generally associated with carbon dioxide poisoning, he said.

“This is new technology,” he explained. “This equipment allows us to see how much oxygen is in the blood, and to see if there is carbon monoxide in the blood.”

The vote to move forward with the application was unanimous.

Town Manager Bud Finch said such equipment is invaluable in rural areas.

“When you’re this far from a hospital, it’s very important,” he said.

Selectman Matthew Frank asked how soon the town would learn whether the grant is approved.

“They told me six to eight weeks,” Laplante said. The deadline for applying for the grant is Dec. 31.

Selectman Lisa Villa thanked Laplante for his efforts in applying for the grant.

Finch circulated several versions of what new “Welcome to Harrison” signs might look like, based on the design of the town seal. There are now only two signs, which have faded considerably and need to be replaced, he said. The new signs will be installed at the Waterford-Harrison line, the Naples-Harrison line and the Otisfield-Harrison line.

There was some discussion about whether the signs should say just Harrison, or Harrison, Maine.

“People are in trouble if they don’t know what state they’re in,” Frank said.

“Well, yes,” said Selectman Richard St. John, “but visitors might want to take a picture standing next to the sign, so maybe it should say Maine.”

The selectmen appointed James Dayton to the Planning Board, and Ed Rolfe as an alternate.

A public hearing on junkyard permits for Walter Connell and John Campbell drew no comments. Finch said there have been no problems with either business.

“There’s nothing on the record for either of them,” Finch said.

Looking in Connell’s direction, Chairman Bill Winslow asked, “Is there anything we don’t know about, Walter?”

“Nothing I’m going to tell you,” Connell said with a chuckle.

Finch announced that he and St. John will be attending a seminar in Augusta on dams.

“And we won’t be making any damn jokes about it,” he said.

Selectmen were pleased that Thursday night’s meeting was attended by a half dozen people, unlike most meetings when, as Selectmen Kathy Laplante phrased it, “We’re talking to a blank wall.”

Finch welcomed them and encouraged them to take part in Christmas in Harrison, which began Thursday and will continue through Saturday in the village area.