Preston — The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday to send a letter of intent to possibly join the Uncas Health District next fiscal year, meeting a Sept. 30 state Department of Public Health deadline to start the process that could qualify the town and health district for a $15,000 incentive grant.

Thursday’s vote does not yet obligate the town to join the district but gives the town until the end of May 2019 to complete its research and make a decision whether to join a health district. First Selectman Robert Congdon said Friday that the Uncas Health District seems to be a “better fit” for residents, who tend to have more ties to Norwich and the William W. Backus Hospital, but the town still could consider joining Ledge Light Health District, the other option in the region.

Uncas Health District Executive Director Patrick McCormack said he informed state health department officials Friday of Preston’s vote. The Uncas Health District board of directors likely will vote later this fall whether to accept Preston as the district’s 11th member town.

The state incentive would give Preston $10,000 to help cover costs of joining a health district and would give Uncas Health District $5,000 to cover its initial expansion costs. McCormack said if Preston joins, he likely would need to add staff, and the district would incur more costs for travel and use of resources. There also would be time needed either to move or digitize Preston health records, such as septic tank installation plans and health inspection records.

Congdon estimated being in the health district would cost about $2,000 more than what the town is paying for its current health services.

Under the current Uncas Health District fee structure, Preston would pay $6.61 per capita, $30,842 for the town’s 4,666 population, plus $1.85 per capita state fee, for a total of $39,474 through taxes.

During a workshop with the Board of Selectmen last week, McCormack estimated annual permit fees paid by Preston residents and businesses at $5,000. Health district fees are higher than what Preston currently charges — Uncas charges $125 for a septic permit, while Preston charges $40 currently — but Uncas has extensive staff to provide faster and broader services, Congdon said.

Since North Stonington joined Ledge Light last year, Preston became the only town in the region still with a system of part-time officials handling health services: restaurant inspector Ted Falice, sanitarian Randy Dalton and health director Dr. Frank Green.

But Congdon said all three selectmen separately talked to Dalton prior to Thursday’s meeting and he indicated he hoped to retire soon. Green also told Congdon he would like to retire soon, as well, leaving the town with difficult part-time positions to fill, Congdon said.

Congdon said he does not yet know the legal process Preston must follow to join the district next spring, whether it would require a town meeting or become part of the normal budget process. McCormack said the district added a few small towns in recent years, and the process was different for each one.

According to a memo from the state Department of Public Health to the town, Preston would need to publish and hold a public hearing before taking the final vote.

c.bessette@theday.com