BETHEL — The Bethel Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the wastewater treatment plant budget of $1.16 million, but with two exclusions.

Excluded were a trailer to haul and store emergency equipment, and a flail mower to mow rough terrain at the sludge site.

Selectmen decided to exclude the flail mower because of the $3,500 cost and because it did not seem to be an immediate necessity.

The trailer was excluded because of plans to build a large garage to store equipment.

The garage would be 50 by 50 feet, although selectmen discussed adding 20 feet to the length to ensure plenty of storage space for equipment. Plans for a steel building were quoted at $230,000 with a heated slab foundation, but selectmen are waiting on a quote for a wood building from Western Maine Supply before making a final decision.

Excluding the mower and the trailer decreased the budget by about $6,000.  Approved items to the budget included pump maintenance to Bridge Street and Telstar High/Middle School, totaling $8,000.  A new computer was approved with features for constant backup to each drive, storing and protecting data at all times.

The treatment plant will also receive a 7- by 14-foot tandem axle dump trailer for the new sludge press dewatering system. The trailer will be used to collect and haul sludge cake, but can also be used to transport the plant’s tractor and other equipment.

Maintenance in the budget includes $1,500 to repair deteriorating manholes on Route 2 and LED light bulbs in the plant office.

Staff at the plant will get a slight salary increase as well, but Town Manager Christine Landes said the workers may potentially be switching to hourly because of new federal regulations concerning salaried workers going into effect Dec. 1. 

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