Committee Chairwoman Ellen Faulconer said the panel will vote to recommend the town’s 2005 operating budget at a meeting Jan. 8 and then bring the recommendation before the voters Jan. 9.

Faulconer said this is a good opportunity for residents to get involved in the budget process prior to the deliberative session.

The Jan. 9 public hearing will be at Town Hall at 1:30 p.m. and will address each town department’s budget, the major increases in the budget and how the 2005 budget compares to the current year’s budget. The Jan. 9 hearing also acts as a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen.

Another public hearing is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 15, at 9 a.m. at Town Hall to discuss the proposed town warrant articles and petitioned warrant articles.

Faulconer said if the committee decides not to include something in the budget on Jan. 9, residents will have an opportunity to present it as a petition warrant article by Jan. 11, to be taken up at the Jan. 15 public hearing.

The committee has been discussing the budget since September and has had all department heads make presentations of their proposed spending.

The Jan. 15 hearing on warrant articles will include discussion about a new full-time police officer and full-time fire chief; putting money in a capital reserve to save for a new library; replacing fire apparatus; and saving for a new fire station.

Last year, Police Chief Donald W. Briggs Jr. approached the Board of Selectmen about hiring a full-time police officer but he was asked to hold off for a year. Now he is back with his proposal.

The department has 14 officers, eight of which are full time. Briggs said the safe average is to have two officers for every 1,000 people.

The warrant article asks voters to raise and appropriate money for an entry-level patrolman. Briggs said he is not sure how much the department will be asking voters for to pay for the position.

The department also plans to ask voters to approve $1,000 for a special revenue account for police outside details.

This warrant article carries no tax impact because the department collects fees for the details that pay for officers’ time and brings in extra money.

Fire Chief Norm Hurley said the Fire Department will be presenting three petitioned warrant articles to voters.

He will ask for $60,000 for future replacement of fire apparatus, $75,000 to put in a capital reserve fund for the replacement of the Kingston’s Main Street fire station and $29,000 for a full-time fire chief. He won’t have time with his own business next year to take on the job.

The Nichols Library board of trustees is working on a petition warrant article to put $40,000 in a capital reserve fund to save for renovation or construction of a new library building.