WEST PARIS — The Fire Station will soon have a new wall, giving the fire chief a private space for meeting with the public and offering more security for records and equipment.

The current building configuration does not allow for much privacy or security in the chief’s office area, because his desk is just inside the door to the building and open to the kitchen area. Over time, some small items, such as radios, have turned up missing.

Town Manager John White told selectmen Thursday night that the Fire Department intends to build a wall around the space.

The Board of Selectmen had two permit applications for junkyards on Thursday. They approved one and tabled the other after the applicant failed to show for his hearing.

Selectmen granted a permit to West Paris Metal after confirming with the owner that he was up-to-date on his inspections and that no issues have resulted from having a junkyard on his property.

The owner of Mason Restoration did not appear at the meeting to answer questions from the board or the audience about his application, so selectmen tabled the public hearing to a date yet to be determined.

In other news, White told selectmen that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection finally granted the town’s permit-by-rule application for construction on the Harold C. Perham Field baseball diamond off High Street. The grandstand there was built in 2009, but the diamond is not usable and needs to be refurbished.

Selectmen also discussed a request for financial support for Western Maine Transportation Services, and approved $200 annually in funds to support the service. Western Maine Transportation Services does not have a regular service schedule to the town, but people who need to use the service may call and request a ride for doctors’ appointments and other needs.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Randall Jones said, “For a couple of hundred dollars, if it helps people in town when they need it, then it’s worth it.”

Western Maine Transportation Services has asked the Oxford County Commission for funding. The commissioners asked all county towns for input, but if the county ultimately agrees to fund the transportation service, the towns would pay their share via their county tax bills.  

mjerkins@sunmediagroup.net