Voters in the Wareham Fire District approved two articles at their annual meeting Monday night that dedicated $3.4 million to a project that both taps into and protects the aquifer at Maple Park.

Other items that caused discussion during the two-hour meeting included the purchase of firefighting gear and a new support vehicle, and Clerk and Treasurer Marybeth Fernandes' salary.

Voters authorized $2.9 million for construction of the well site off Glen Charlie Road in East Wareham.  The District has already invested $300,000 in the project for permitting.  The new funds will be used to construct the well and associated pumping station as well as appropriate control systems.

The District was also authorized to spend $550,000 to purchase 70 acres adjacent to the site.  The conservation project is a collaboration among the fire district, town, and several conservation organizations including the Nature Conservancy, the Wareham Land Trust and Massachusetts Fish and Game to protect 180 acres of land.  The 70-acres will be available for possible future expansion of the Maple Park well.  The remaining 110 acres may be purchased under a conservation restriction, possibly using Community Preservation Act (CPA) and other funds.

The District estimates that most water users will see an annual charge of between $7 and $27 beginning in July 2012 to fund the construction project and a charge of between $2.25 and $5.50 beginning in July 2011 for the land acquisition.

The construction project passed with little discussion once residents who lived nearby the property were assured that the construction and maintenance vehicles would be confined to Glen Charlie Road.  Water Superintendent Michael Martin also assured resident Brock Tucy, whose campground and business, Maple Park, contains a right-of-way over which the construction vehicles and maintenance vehicles will access the site, that his cooperation will be sought now that the money for the project has been appropriated.

However, the uncertainty of allocating money for land purchase when so many groups, and thus variables, were involved caused concern.

Geoff Swett felt that the article, as written, contained no reference to the value of the property.

"Is this $550,000 for one acre or 70 acres?" he asked, arguing that without knowing how much land the money could fund, he was uncomfortable authorizing the allocation, and he asked that the article be amended to specify that the money would specifically purchase 70 acres.

"You're saying 'trust me,' which is fine," Swett said. "But I have to make a value judgement."

Martin responded that the value of the parcel would be determined by an appraiser, but assured voters that the District would not pay more than fair market value.

Prudential Committee Chair George Barrett warned that this "could kill the deal," as the District's collaborators in land conservation were examining grant sources that required they own certain acreage - for instance, shoreline land or wetlands, and that the District needed flexibility in negotiating with these organizations.

Jane Donahue, a Selectman but attending the meeting as a private citizen, pointed out that the article authorized the District to borrow up to a certain amount and purchase a certain amount.  It wouldn't make sense for the District to borrow more than that amount, or buy more acreage than was necessary.

Water Commissioner Edward Tamagini said the opportunity to preserve the land was too good to pass up.

"You don't get a second chance to protect water," he said, closing discussion before Swett's amendment was defeated and the article passed.

In other action:

Voters passed an article dedicating $45,000 to purchase 15 new sets of gear.  The article accelerated the refurbishing of equipment - Chief Robert McDuffy's budget called for 8 new sets of gear, with the remainder to be ordered next year - but was petitioned by firefighter Michael Bird.  The line item for the 8 new sets of gear was also approved, after Bird argued that it was needed for repair and replacement of equipment and did not have to all be spent.

Treasurer and Clerk Marybeth Fernandes received a 3-percent raise, although the motion was challenged by Barrett.  He insisted he was not singling out the Treasurer, but said he "wanted to be consistent across all management personnel," who are involved in ongoing negotiations focused on a 1 1/2 percent increase.  Fernandes, who is not a unionized employee, said that she based her increase on the 3-percent raise budgeted for the Water District employees. Voters were confused when comparing her $61,240 and $64,301 salary, which reflects a 5-percent increase.  However, the Prudential Committee pointed out that there are 53 rather than 52 pay periods in 2011.

The District approved $54,000 to purchase a new support vehicle, offsetting the amount with $17,935.55 in unallocated funds from six articles passed in previous years.

A special washer and dryer combination will be installed in the fire house using money from a 2007 allocation for the same project.  The "walk-in cabinet" as described by Chief McDuffy will enable firefighters to clean and dry all different types of gear.

The Fire Department passed a $4,330,114 budget; the Water Department passed a $3,566,831 budget.  $200,000 was transferred to the Stabilization Fund.