Alna selectmen plan to recommend voters take a break next month from socking away money for future land buys.

Before adding to the municipal land reserve account, the town ought to have a better idea what it's looking for, Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve said February 7.

That would lessen the chance of the town making a quick decision and needing a loan if someone offers to sell the town a property, he said. “I'm not for putting any more money into this without a plan.”

The account currently has just over $3,000 in it, Town Clerk Amy Warner said.

Selectmen touched briefly on possible uses for more town-owned land, from a new town office to a ball field or playground. The current town office lot might have room for a ball field, First Selectman David Abbott said, adding that any land the town buys would come off the tax rolls.

“If we were to buy land to preserve land, I'm not sure it's so good for the town,” he said.

The matter came up as selectmen began drafting a budget proposal for the annual town meeting March 16. They will continue working on it February 14. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the town office.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com