POLAND — Selectmen on Tuesday approved seeking requests for proposals to demolish the McConaghy-Walker house, with Selectman James Walker casting the lone dissenting vote.

Walker said that as late as earlier in the afternoon he had been in contact with a party who was considering making a proposal to move the building to another location in town.

Selectman Steve Robinson pointed out that the town acquired the McConaghy house, situated between Ricker Memorial Library and the old Town Hall on Maine Street, three years ago and several parties have considered moving the house only to come to the conclusion that it would be cost-prohibitive.

Robinson said matters have gone on long enough; voters at April town meeting had agreed that it was time for action, time to tear it down.

“Enough of someone just talking to one selectman,” Robinson said. “At this point, anyone interested would have to come sit down before the whole board, put money on the barrel head.” 

“No more hemming and hawing,” Selectman Janice Kimball said.

The request for proposals calls for bids to demolish the structure to be submitted by July 22.

Town Manager Bradley Plante said officials with the company the town is hiring to remove asbestos will be at the house this week.

To reduce costs, town crews will fill in the well and septic system, and tear up the driveway, Plante said.

Plans call for the structure to be removed, the cellar hole filled and the whole area grassed over this fall.

Selectmen also approved sending out a request for proposal for a new reserve pumper to replace the Fire Department’s Engine 2, a 2003 Pierce International.

Selectmen questioned Fire Chief Mark Bosse at length about the wisdom of buying two major pieces of equipment in back-to-back years, ultimately agreeing that it made financial sense to replace Engine 2 rather than to spend $75,000 to possibly extend the life of the truck another five years.

Bosse noted that replacing Engine 2 was on the list for this year and that in budget discussions leading up to the April town meeting, it was agreed not to put money into the equipment maintenance line but rather to go ahead with the purchase.

Selectmen Walker and Kimball voted against buying a new pumper at this time, with Kimball saying that her objection was solely because of financial reasons.

In other business, selectmen:

* Met with members of the Poland Scholarship Committee and approved new bylaws, including a major change in how the funds are managed.

While the scholarship committee has yet to take official action, the plan is for the group’s assets to be managed by H.M. Payson, the same firm that now manages the endowment for Ricker Memorial Library.

It is believed that the scholarship fund, which has about $220,000 on hand, could be making much higher interest with proper management.

* Accepted, with regrets, the resignations of Sue Ellis from the Conservation Committee and William Eldridge from the Scholarship Committee. It was noted that Eldridge has served on that committee for over 30 years.