CANDIA — After years of research, debate, conflict and a fistfight at Town Hall, Candia has decided to put the closure of the town's incinerator site on hold until next spring.

Selectmen voted to hold off on doing any work until voters approve $129,300 funding for the entire project, rather than use some of the existing fund of $35,000 to start the job by removing the buildings at the site.

“Nothing will happen until next March,” said Selectman Richard Snow, who added the board accepted a bid contingent upon voters approving the additional $100,000 in spending for the work. The selectman will now hammer out the details on the contract with the Epping-based company, EnviroVantage.

As for the fight that broke out between former Selectman Rick Lazotte and former Solid Waste Committee member Roger Stenbak at the selectmen's meeting earlier this week, Selectman Amanda Soares said apologies were being made.

Candia police are still investigating, and haven't decided on whether any charges will be filed.

“We are still talking with people and getting statements from people who were there,” said Officer Kevin Mahoney.

Residents and town officials acknowledge the project has generated a lot of emotion in Candia.

“In some sense, it was an isolated incident between two individuals,” said Snow, who added that Lazotte and Stenbak have been on opposing sides of the issue.

But Snow also said he thinks the conflict reflected problems far beyond Candia and its old dump site.

“It's symptomatic of the trauma being suffered by a significant portion of the population,” he said, adding that the uncertain economy is taking a toll and generating frustration and fear for many local families.

Soares, who along with Selectman Fred Kelly, opposed accepting the bid, said the additional spending will add approximately $50 to the average tax bill for property valued at $200,000.

Soares, who has long argued that the site could be closed and capped for less money, stressed that any hike in taxes is a burden for people struggling in the down economy and those on fixed incomes.

“I feel that this is fiscally irresponsible,” said Soares. “But there's nothing more I can do.”

Some in town have already suggested that voters may not approve the additional money needed to hire EnviroVantage.

However, Rudolph Cartier, who helped selectmen sort through options about what to do at the site, said something has to happen, or the state Department of Environmental Services may decide to step in.

“If we don't close it, it could go to enforcement,” said Cartier. “We can't just drag it on.”

Although there has been some mention of grant money to help the town pay the bill, the state funding that was previously available to help communities close and cap landfills and incinerator sites has been tapped out. DES has been paying off old commitments to towns that were awarded grant money, but new applications may have to wait years before any more funding becomes available.

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Barbara Taormina may be reached at btaormina@newstote.com.