Selectmen are investigating how they can get one more used car dealership license, after they had to choose between two local business owners for the one remaining Class II license.

At their recent meeting, selectmen awarded the used car license to Chris Fraser, of Bridge Road's Fraser Automotive. The owner of a former new car dealership who sold his General Motors franchise back to the company due to the economy, Fraser will use the large footprint of his business to sell used cars, as well as continue his automotive repair center.

Fraser has 11 employees and space for 135 possible used cars to sell. Fraser, a third-generation car dealer, once sold new Pontiac, Buick and GMC vehicles at the site as well as used cars.

Also making a bid for the license was Bill Selig, who wanted to run a smaller, one-person business on a Main Street corner lot. Selig hopes to stock about 20 to 25 used cars.

Years ago, after used car dealerships began to pop up everywhere, Town Meeting limited the number of Class II, used car dealerships that could locate in town. Giving the last available license to Fraser left Selig out in the cold, something selectmen hope they can remedy, they said.

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Thanks to increased funding, School Resource Officer Mike Alder will be at Salisbury Elementary School Monday through Friday, according to police Chief David L'Esperance.

"This is thanks to dispatcher Christine Harrison and Police Department administrative assistant Fran Cooper, who worked hard at writing the grant that increased the funding for this position," L'Esperance said recently. "The funding allows us to have officer Alder at the school five days a week and replace him with an officer to take over his street patrol duties."

In addition to having a presence at the school and working with school children to keep them safe, Sgt. Kevin Sullivan has been working with the Boys and Girls Club, L'Esperance said.

"For the rest of the school year, officer Alder will be at the Boys and Girls Club after school," L'Esperance said. "When school lets out, other officers may be at the club working with kids. We're so thankful in these economic times to have received this grant money."

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Activity at the town's building inspector's office has slowed considerably. According to Building Inspector Ken Surette, the recession's putting a damper on all kinds of building projects. Surette told selectmen fiscal year 2008 saw 35 percent fewer permits issued than 2007, which had 7 percent fewer permits than 2006.

Not only are there fewer permits, he said, but the building projects cost less than those of past years. Where once a family or business may have planned a $50,000 project, this year projects might be shaved down to $35,000.

The result is less income for town coffers.

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Kendra Pike Osgood is the new chairwoman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, which desperately needs one more members, she told selectmen. A new member with a legal background would be especially beneficial, she added.

At monthly ZBA meetings, the lack of a full complement of members has caused meetings to be canceled due to a lack of quorum. The result is those with cases before the ZBA have had to return to the next meeting, hoping a quorum would be present.

Those interested in volunteering for the open seat should contact Town Manager Neil Harrington at 978-465-2310.

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The Salisbury Board of Health will not have regular office hours from March 16 through April 1, due to short staffing.

The health agent has office hours by appointment, which can be arranged by placing a call to the Health Office at 978-462-3430. Leave a message in the voice mailbox, and calls will be returned by the next business day.

In case of an emergency, contact Dave Madden at 508-527-0400 or 978-948-7495.

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Angeljean Chiaramida covers Salisbury for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666 ext. 3271, or via e-mail at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com.