The Boothbay selectmen tentatively approved a local electrician’s bid on March 25 to install energy efficient lighting for the East Boothbay Fire Station. The board unanimously accepted Northern Lights Electric of Boothbay’s bid to replace the station’s compact fluorescent lamp bulbs. Electrical contractor Gary Arsenault submitted a $1,550 bid for labor and materials.

The board agreed to approve the proposal after Arsenault explained why he is using CFLs instead of more energy efficient light-emitting diodes (LED). The selectmen directed Arsenault to submit an application to qualify for an Efficiency Maine rebate. The state agency offers a 50 percent rebate on projects submitted before April 1, according to town officials.

“I have no problem with the bid, but before we approve this I’d like to know why he’s not using the most efficient technology,” Selectman Dale Harmon said.

Arsenault will submit the application to meet the state’s deadline. He will also provide information about the CFL T-8 bulbs he plans on installing. In his bid, Arsenault proposed re-ballasting and re-lamping all fluorescent fixtures from the soon-to-be obsolete T-12 bulbs to new high performance T-8 models.

The new bulbs are expected to provide the same light output and lifespan with half the electrical use, according to Arsenault’s bid.

The selectmen expect to officially approve the bid in two weeks.

In other action, the selectmen unanimously approved the town meeting warrant. The selectmen unanimously approved the 25-article warrant after holding a public hearing prior to the board meeting. The warrant is a secret ballot referendum. The town meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 4 at the municipal building.

The warrant asks voters to raise and appropriate $1,828,174 for the municipal budget. The referendum also asks voters to approve $160,524 for ambulance services, $15,000 for the cemetery district, $45,000 for the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, $5,000 for the Boothbay Harbor Fireworks Fund, $385,473 for Boothbay Region Refuse District, $20,000 for Boothbay Region Community Television, $2,000 for Boothbay Region Historical Society, $9,250 for Boothbay Region District Nursing Association, $300 for American Legion Post 36, $915 for New Home for Women, and $500 for the Woodchucks program.

The warrant also asks to appropriate $120,500 from the unassigned fund balance to purchase property located on 16 Corey Lane. The property is owned by Paul Weaver of Massachusetts, who leases it to the U.S. Postal Service.

The warrant also requests $25,000 to fund the town’s share of the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Joint Economic Development Committee for fiscal year 2016.

The next selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8 in the municipal building.