STRONG — Selectmen agreed Tuesday to advertise for an animal control officer and check with other towns about sharing services.

But that is not the only office to be filled.

Town Clerk Betsy DuBois told selectmen there are no candidates for a school director or two budget committee members. The deadline to return nomination papers is Jan. 16.

Selectmen also discussed presenting voters at the annual town meeting in March with an article to purchase equipment to clear sidewalks in the winter.

Last fall, Main Street resident Steve Johnson suggested to selectmen that plowing sidewalks would allow children to walk home safely. He offered to clear sidewalks in his neighborhood, but selectmen discouraged that because of liability concerns. They agreed that voters should have the chance to review costs, including wages for an employee to operate the equipment.

“It’s my feeling that, after the discussions we had, we should put something out there,” Selectman Dick Worthley said.

Public Works Department Foreman Duayne Boyd said the width of the sidewalks varies, so equipment would have to fit and be able to sand and salt the surfaces.

Boyd, who is fire chief, told selectmen he has only12 volunteer firefighters, and only four or five are available during workdays. He said firefighters in small rural towns have to meet the same training and reporting standards as cities. They also have to take their personal time without pay for training and for responding to calls.

Selectman Mike Pond suggested the Fire Department should be able to bill insurance companies for the time the time volunteers spend responding to accidents.

“Kingfield is charging now,” he said. “Kingfield charges Poland Spring (Water Co.) for crashed trucks.”

In other matters, custodian Tonia Boyd and Forster Memorial Building liaison Mike Pond said they would like to prevent visitors from tracking salt and sand over the polished hardwood floors in the meeting hall.

Boyd had asked to have a notice posted on the hall’s doors asking people not to cross the floor in winter boots. The Forster Building Committee had asked to be notified of these changes and have input before selectmen instituted changes.

Pond said he understood that members of the committee were upset that they weren’t included in the matter. He also said he didn’t understand the reason for their angry response, but he and Boyd would review other options to solve the problem.

“Maybe we should buy a runner so people can go through that room,” he said. “It’s not keeping anyone from using that room for meetings.”