STRONG — Selectmen on Thursday night faced several possible budget increases for the coming year, including employee insurance, computer software and a computer technician.

“Insurance is a biggie,” board Chairman Dick Worthley said during the preliminary review of the 2018 spending plan.

Workers’ compensation costs have gone down, but the town is required by law to pay into the insurance pool. The town employees’ insurance through Maine Municipal Association will cost more this year, but less than other plans they reviewed last summer.

Selectmen reviewed administrative costs for the town office for 2018.  The proposed $69,000 is an increase of $3,000 to include software updates for the Maine Department of Motor Vehicles, property taxes and accounting systems. 

Selectmen agreed they need to keep the technology account funded adequately. That will include finding a more readily available service technician, Worthley said.

For several years, Sean Tenant has answered the town’s calls for computer-related assistance, but he has become Regional School Unit 58’s full-time IT director. He has been a very affordable option, Worthley said, so selectmen should expect to pay more for a qualified replacement.

The board also contracted with Greg Siekman to design and launch a town website, www.strongmaine.com.

It’s going to be $2,649.95, Worthley said, “so we’ve got to plan for that.”

Librarian Erika Ouellette will receive a stipend to maintain it in the future. There also will be annual costs to renew the domain name and the hosting site.

Selectmen also reviewed a preliminary budget for plowing, paving and maintaining roads. Paving, according to highway foreman Duayne Boyd, is on a five-year rotation plan, and this year Burbank Hill is on that summer schedule.

Selectmen authorized board member Rob Elliott to finalize arrangements with Dexter “Buzz” Burgess to be animal control officer starting Feb. 1.

Burgess is trained, certified and has his own equipment, and serves New Sharon, Farmington and Chesterville, Elliott said.

In other matters, selectmen approved the purchase of a runner for the Foster Memorial Building to protect the polished wood floors from sand, salt and water damage during winter months.