CAMDEN — With the recent resignation of Fire Chief Robert Oxton the debate again will shift to the merits of a town this size having a full-time fire chief.

At its meeting Monday, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to create a search committee to assist with the appointment of a new chief. At the urging of Chairman Mort Strom, the board agreed the committee’s initial task would be to decide whether the town needed a full-time fire chief.

A 32-year veteran of the Fire Department, Oxton resigned after serving the past 25 years as chief. The last four were served in a full-time capacity. Oxton has taken a position as vice president of MBNA Financial Services. His resignation is effective Sept. 30.

“The issue of full or part time should be discussed,” Strom said. “People can make arguments for either situation. That is possibly the first issue of the search committee to make to this board.”

Selectmen Nancy Meisle and Barbara Dyer were assigned to seats on the search committee as was Town Manager Roger Moody. Two additional members will be recommended by the Firemen’s Advisory Committee which meets Wednesday night. The final seat will be held by a member of the Personnel Committee.

Selectman James Elliott, a member of the volunteer fire department, suggested that Assistant Chief Preston Brawn be asked to serve on the search committee. Elliott said Brawn possessed an “ability to take a broad view of the job and has extensive experience in town affairs.” He also stressed the Brawn would “probably not want to be chief.”

Dyer noted that Oxton also had expressed a willingness to offer recommendations as well as stay beyond Sept. 30 in the event the transition to a new chief was still unsettled.

The search committee will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23. Once what the type of chief that best suits the town is determined, individual applications will be accepted.

“I’m glad for Bob and his new opportunity,” Town Manager Moody noted. “He’s been a valued member of the town’s administration and given great skill to the community. … We’ll miss him and wish him well.”

In an attempt to solve the problems brought on by being a tourist mecca, the board voted unanimously to lower the speed limit on Beaucaire Avenue from 45 to 25 mph and designated the west side of Mountain Street from Route 1 to Cross street “car parking only.”

Mountain Street residents complained that recreational vehicles have begun using certain portions of the street as an overnight camping area. They said the larger vehicles made backing from their driveways a dangerous situation. They also charged that some vehicles remained on the streets for days at a time. “Everybody in the neighborhood can attest to that,” said Jim Sylvester.

Andy Pratt of 12 Mountain St. said restricting parking to cars “seems to be a logical proposal.” Pratt said that when he “studied” the traffic flow he noticed “three RVs over the weekend including candlelight dinner out front and so forth.”

Several residents spoke in favor of lowering the speed limit on Beaucaire Avenue, especially in the Barrett’s Cove area. Nancy Scanfer said summer brought an increase in pedestrians, runners and bicyclists. She said children swimming at the cove often darted into the road without looking.

David Dickey argued that “25 is certainly too fast some days in summer.” He said that he flagged down a motorcyclist over the weekend that was traveling an estimated 70 mph.

Poice Chief Terry Burgess said he supported the reduced speed but warned that enforcement by radar would be difficult because of the winding nature of the road.