POLAND — The Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 Tuesday in favor of a capital-improvement plan transfer of $65,000 to buy a used excavator. 

The transfer included $45,000 from the backhoe account and $20,000 from the dump truck account.

Public Works Director Adam Strout said buying a used excavator would lower his department’s general operating budget by at least $7,000 a year, mostly by eliminating the need to rent an excavator each year. 

“This just makes sense on all levels for me,” he said. 

The transfer was discussed by the board at a prior meeting, and Selectperson Janice Kimball said she disagreed with it then and held her stance Tuesday night. 

“I think we’re better served to rent an excavator,” she said. “If it breaks down, we get a different one.” 

Strout said renting is risky because you have to pay for the repairs. 

Kimball and Selectperson Walter Gallagher agreed that going forward without a plan for the future of the machine was not a good idea. 

“The biggest issue is that there’s no plan for replacement, a time frame for that,” Gallagher said.

He said residents will look at this as “equipment creep,” especially without a clear plan in place. 

He was also worried about taking money that was set aside for a backhoe replacement, but Strout said having the excavator would expand the backhoe’s life span. 

“I just think there needs to be more thought process behind this,” Kimball said.

The excavator will be used to continue road improvements. 

In other matters:

* The board unanimously approved the appointment of Scott Neal as the town’s new code enforcement officer. Neal of New Gloucester has been a self-employed construction worker for more than 30 years before making a move into code enforcement. 

* A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall to discuss the municipal complex renovation project. The board discussed possibly using money from the undesignated fund balance to pay for the project if approved by voters.