LISBON — The town council agreed Tuesday to spend more than $3,000 from the downtown tax increment financing account to install a fence atop the retaining wall at the Booker Street parking lot.

Built in 2021, the parking lot is next to the Sausage Kitchen. Economic Development Director Ross Cunningham said the original plan included the fence, but it was never installed.

“When we built the Booker Street Parking Lot, we put a nice retaining wall in the back of the Sausage Kitchen. It’s 6-to-8 feet up off the ground,” Cunningham said. “We’re now having public events there, and it is a safety risk of people falling off the wall, and we don’t want that.”

Cunningham added that the owner of the Sausage Kitchen received an estimate from Atlantic Fence Company to place a fence along the wall for $3,225,68

Officials said it was important to add a fence along the wall to provide a safety barrier and reduce the risk of someone getting hurt on town property.

Councilor Jeremy Barnard said he was not against the project, but opposed it for philosophical reasons.

“I respect all of that,” Barnard said when told of the reason for the fencing. “But I’m going to vote no because I think before we spend any TIF money, I’d like to have a more comprehensive conversation about what we’re doing with the TIF funds.”

Town Manager Glenn Michalowski said the town had $181,323 in the downtown TIF fund balance in 2023 and expected an additional $89,000 when the 2024 audit is completed.

The board approved the expenditure by a 6-1 vote, with only Barnard voting against.