The Onset Fire District passed every warrant article at their annual district meeting on Monday night, and while most of the fire department articles passed unanimously, there were some concerns raised on the water side.

Over 100 residents came out and unanimously voted to borrow $760,000 for the purchase of a new ladder truck for the fire department. The ladder truck currently in use at the department is 43 years old and numerous officials including Onset Fire Chief Ray Goodwin have voiced concerns about the safety of the truck.

Voters also passed an article changing the split of what taxpayers and employees pay for district employee health benefits.

Prudential Committee member Marcine Fernandes said the split is being reduced from 99 percent paid by the taxpayers to 90 percent to comply with a 2011 state law that said no municipality can pay more than 90 percent of its employee health benefits.

When a resident asked if it was a good idea to adopt the town of Wareham's current ratio of taxpayer to employee payment for health benefits (which will be 67.5 percent town to 32.5 percent employee next year) going forward, Fernandes said, "we fall under a different category than them," and that the district was in negotiations with the unions on future payment structure.

When resident David Heard asked if the payment ratio is under discussion, Fernandes said she was not at liberty to say.

Voters also passed an article on the water department payroll that included funding an additional labor position. The Water Commissioners outlined several reasons why this extra position was needed, including faster meter reading and the ability to complete more projects.

But when resident Andrea Lynch asked if the department was aiming to add the additional position and keep the total amount of overtime pay the same level as last year (as stated in the budget) Water Commissioner James Moran replied, "Yes."

When the meeting was adjourned, it marked the final district meeting for Prudential Committee Chairman Jovina Dean. She chose not to run for re-election this year after serving on the committee for 21 years.

"It's been a good ride," she said, adding that while it was a sad moment, she will still be around in some capacity. "I'm not going anywhere."