A water grade control system like this one at the outlet of Pierce and Wight Ponds at Penobscot in Hancock County will be constructed as an eventual replacement for the Little Androscoggin River dam in Oxford. Courtesy VHB, Inc.

OXFORD — Selectmen voted 4-1 Thursday night to authorize a water grade control structure upstream of the Welchville dam on the Little Andrsocggin River, which may allow the dam to be removed in three years.

The estimated cost is $100,000.

Some selectmen have stated a preference to replace the dam, but in order to qualify for Maine Department of Environmental Protection grants to help pay for the system, the river must allow fish to spawn, which means the dam would eventually have to be taken out.

Caldwell Jackson voted against the project. He indicated at a previous meeting that he did not support permanently removing the dam.

Voting for the new system were Sharon Jackson, Dana Dillingham, Scott Hunter and Floyd Thayer.

Selectmen authorized $42,710 for: an archaeological survey along the channel and property access; engineer David Cloutier of VHB Inc. to prepare bid documents; and for Cloutier to oversee construction of the stone grade controls.

Among the concerns the board has expressed is the potential for the water levels in Hogan and Whitney ponds to drop if the grade controls on the channel, connects the ponds to the river, do not work sufficiently.

Town Manager Adam Garland said he gathered testimonials from other municipalities, and reports for using stone grade controls have been satisfactory.

An archaeological survey must be done before an access road can be built to where the controls will be installed. Garland said there have been indications that the area may have been part of an indigenous settlement. The results of the survey will be compared with Maine state archival records.

Cloutier said construction would be done in late summer/early fall next year when the water levels tend to be low. He also said the installation will include a canoe/kayak portage path to allow continued access to the channel.

The poor condition of Welchville Dam in Oxford threatens water levels in Hogan and Whitney ponds. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat

In his regular report, Garland announced municipal hours during the upcoming holidays.

The Town Office will close at 2 p.m. Dec. 21 for an employee Christmas party, and Dec. 23 and 26 and Jan. 2. The Transfer Station will be closed Dec. 24-26.

Garland also reported that renovations to turn two meeting spaces and a center corridor into a large voting and conference room at the new town office should be done by early spring. Once completed, the public will be invited to an open house at the municipal office building at 127 Pottle Road.