WRENTHAM - Residents at this week's town meeting easily approved $105,000 for two more officers for the short-handed police department. The vote was unanimous.

Finance committee Chairman Jerry McGovern explained the move will save money in the long run since the police department is operating with a patrolman shortage that requires vacancies to be filled with costly overtime.

Despite the town's growth, it still has 14 police officers, the number it had 27 years ago. Two officers have been out on extended leave because of injuries.

Residents also backed transferring $43,000 from the ambulance fund to the fire department salary budget because a firefighter has been out on extended leave.

And, voters approved $66,000 for two police vehicles, a $58,000 DPW truck, $62,000 for special education transportation and $16,000 for public health to deal with swine flu clinics. After some discussion, voters rejected an amendment by board of health Chairman Leon Bruner to add $4,000 to the board of health budget to staff its office when its sole employee is out.

"We have to close the office," Bruner said, noting it is a significant inconvenience to those who visit the office.

McGovern countered town hall lost 6.5 positions, including a part-time board of health employee, for this year's budget because of money limitations.

"We were not able to keep certain offices open" all the time, he said. "We believe we have to keep within the budget. If we fund this, it will open up the gates."

Residents also rejected, 83 to 60, a request for $270,000 from water revenue for the purchase of a $120,000 utility truck for the water department and $150,000 for engineering plans for a new water main on Madison Street. Public Works Superintendent Irving Priest explained the truck would replace a 10-year-old vehicle and the water main would bring consistent size to water lines on the road and improve water circulation.

Some voters said the engineering costs were too high.

STEPHEN PETERSON covers Wrentham for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0377 or at speterson@thesunchronicle.com.