BLANDFORD — A strong showing of 150 residents attended the Annual Town Meeting on June 5, passing all warrant items including the Gateway and vocational school budgets, and a transfer of $245,000 for the costs of an owner’s project manager and design services for the fire and highway facility project.

The Blandford assessment of $1,463,284, plus an additional $16,974 from the education stabilization account passed unanimously for the Gateway Regional School District, as did $275,000 for vocational education, and $30,950 for vocational transportation expenses.

The town’s general operating budget of $2,449,064 also passed with little discussion after Moderator David Hopson went quickly through the budget line by line.

Most of the meeting was spent discussing plans for the fire and highway garages, with Hopson, Town Administrator Christopher Dunne and attorney Mark Reich trying to quell the concerns of some residents by emphasizing that the vote was not for any one specific plan, but to move forward and look at options.

Several residents stood up and said while they believed everyone in the room was in favor of the town getting a new fire station to replace the 1920s-era brick three-bay garage that is in poor shape and too small for the newest equipment.

“If you took a vote now, everyone would agree,” said one.

However, several residents said they believed new garages for the Fire and Highway departments should be split and considered separately, with the fire garage taking priority.

Hopson said when addressing the vote before the meeting, Selectboard member Jeffrey Allen had asked to split the question. However, with Reich in attendance, Hopson said the vote had to be taken as written, according to law, to see if the town would vote to transfer from free cash $245,000 for the cost of the OPM and design services for the combined Fire and Highway facility project.

“What we’re trying to consider is where is best for the Fire Department. I agree with you that the center of town is best,” said Selectboard member T.J. Cousineau, in response to an objection voiced about one plan to build a combined facility two miles from the center of town. “But we have to do the study, we have to do the study — if we don’t do the study, things will remain the same and the Fire Department is falling down. If it comes down around our ears, what are we going to do?” he added.

Reich said the funds being voted on are for OPM and design services. He said the town is not at the point of constructing either facility, just in the initial phase. He said the selectmen would come back to residents based on the studies to vote on any plan.

Dunne said the next design phase would result in a number of different scenarios, and an understanding of the impact on residents of building a new firehouse and new highway garage. He also said he had posted a table on tax impacts on the town website in response to a question asked at the mini-town meeting on May 22.

Another resident objected to the town having changed the source of the funds from the building stabilization fund, which requires a two-thirds majority, to free cash, which requires a simple majority of residents.

A vote was taken at a special meeting in November to pay for the OPM and schematic design out of building stabilization, which failed with 33 votes in favor to 35 opposed.

Reich responded that taking the funds out of free cash was a financial decision, but ultimately any project to be voted on would require a two-thirds majority vote at a future Town Meeting.

The question was moved, and this time the vote was 87 in favor to 35 opposed to move forward on the project.

Voters also passed with some discussion an amended question to appropriate $200,000 for a new brush truck to replace the town’s 1984 government surplus vehicle, and $400,000 for a new pumper for the Fire Department.

In response to a question, Reich said if the vehicle is purchased for less than the  budgeted amount, the balance would  be rescinded. He said the town cannot sign a purchase contract without having the funds available.