LYMAN — The Goodwin’s Mills Fire Rescue Department has received the necessary approvals from both towns to move forward with 24-hour staffing.

Residents in Lyman voted Saturday to approve an approximately $2.3 million municipal budget. The impact on the tax rate from the budget was not available at press time.

Included in the town budget is $38,520 to increase staffing at Goodwin’s Mills Fire Rescue to provide 24-hour coverage. Dayton, at a June 10 referendum, also approved its share ”“ $25,680 ”“ toward the plan.

Currently, the joint municipal department is staffed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with two firefighter-emergency medical technicians.

The staffing initiative will have an EMT scheduled during the hours the department is not currently staffed. Chief Roger Hooper said at a public meeting last month that this will give the department a faster response time and more dependable service.

Both towns each approved an appropriation of $50,000 toward a fire truck fund, an increase from the past year’s appropriation of $25,000.

Both towns also voted to appropriate about $28,000 from the fire department’s surplus for a new truck.

The purchase of a new fire truck to replace an out-of-commission 1987 engine was approved by both towns, at a cost of no more than $425,000.

Included in the town budget is $40,000 to provide the necessary 20 percent matching funds for a $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean the former Cousens School of contaminants and hazardous materials.

The Community Library currently owns the former school building, and Fred Bechard, chairman of the library board of trustees, said he thought the Cousens School was “a quality building,” and will be worth a lot to the town if the contamination cleanup is done.

Lyman residents Saturday also approved $5,000 for a charter commission and $500 for a conservation commission. Selectwoman Victoria Gavel said the commission will compile information on town properties and determine if there are any of which the town could dispose.

Residents also appropriated $65,000 for reconstruction of the salt shed and paving of the area. Bids have not been open for the proposed job, but town officials estimate that $65,000 will cover the cost of the project.

The budget also includes $175,000 for road resurfacing, $75,000 for road repair and $170,000 for road reconstruction. It also includes nearly $385,400 for personnel.

Residents in Lyman also voted Saturday to make Blueberry Lane a public road.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].