MINOT — Arsenic levels in the water at Minot Consolidated School are slightly elevated, according to annual test results.

Selectman Steve French told the board Monday that the latest report, received this past week, shows arsenic levels are 14 micrograms per liter of water.

Until fairly recently, French noted, the allowed level was 20 micrograms per liter in water provided for consumption by the public, but current regulations allow no more than 10 micrograms.

Water for the Minot Consolidated School comes from the town-owned well, located near the town garage.

Water in this part of Maine, particularly water coming from granitic rock typical of the area, contains arsenic and, French pointed out, for the past eight years, the town has maintained an arsenic filter which, until this test, kept arsenic levels at zero.

French said that while the filter has been working just fine, he speculated that recent problems at the school, whereby it appears a leaking toilet was responsible for raising monthly water use from about 20,000 gallons to something over 80,000 gallons.

“The filter company guy is coming on Wednesday,” French said. “If we’re lucky, maybe its just a gasket that failed. Whatever — we’ll have to correct the problem.”

French estimated that new filters would probably cost about $12,000 with money the town has collected over time. Water usage is metered and the town charges the School Department 1.5 cents per gallon.

In other business, selectmen voted to accept the bid from Pratt Realty Holdings for the former Brown property at 87 Shaw Hill Road.

Pratt Reality’s bid of $21,500 to purchase the town’s interest in the property — the only bid the board received — was opened at the meeting by Town Administrator Arlan Saunders and deemed by the board fully responsive.

Selectmen also voted on a number of appointments, naming Ken Pratt as code enforcement officer, Patricia Roy as health officer, Sharon Campbell as EMA director, Robert Larrabee as animal control officer and Ramona Gould, Constance Benwitz and Eda Tripp as election clerks, all for one-year terms.

Saunders reported that All States Paving of Windham had informed highway supervisor Scott Parker of their intent to start summer paving on or about July 18.

Scheduled for paving this summer are Verrill, North Verrill and Garfield roads, as well as the lower section of Center Minot Hill Road.

Saunders said that, in light of the favorable bids received, they are hoping to extend the amount of paving of the lower section of Center Minot Hill Road to include some that had been scheduled for a year from now.

The board also gave Dennis DeCoster permission to remove a dead tree from just off the trail behind the Town Office.