Voters decided Thursday night they want to postpone the matter of selling town-owned land for commercial development.

Town Manager Kathleen MacKenzie reported Friday that residents were receptive to selling property that once housed the middle school and the Town Office. A party interested in building a grocery store on the land has approached the town.

"They were in favor of the concept," MacKenzie said. "One side said the town has owned the land for a long time, but others said it has been owned since 1970, and nothing has been done with it."

Those in attendance Thursday night called for additional hearings on the matter, MacKenzie said.

Residents also voted to add $45,000 toward the cost of a retrofitted hangar, dedicated to snow removal at the municipal airport. The project cost was more than the amount of a grant awarded to the town, MacKenzie said.

Voters decided not to exceed a $13,000 grant for capital improvements at the transfer station, which might have included a recycling shed.

The approved $989,462 municipal budget is 9 percent greater than last year's.

­ Blethen Maine News Service