Towns conduct business at annual meetings

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    Residents have been turning out to voice their opinions and cast their votes at various town meetings. The following is a recap of sessions held throughout southern Aroostook County.
New Limerick convenes
    At New Limerick Monday, March 26, only 14 residents turned out for the town meeting. Tana McNutt was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of selectmen with 13 votes.
    A two-year seat on the SAD 70 school board saw little interest. Chris Watson received seven votes as a write-in candidate for the seat. However, because Watson is employed by the school district as a bus driver, he is not eligible to serve on the school board, according to Town Manager Judy Nightingale.
    Rebecca Cox received one vote as a write-in candidate and was elected to the school board.
    According to Nightingale, the municipal budget of $286,110 is up almost $12,000 from last year. The bulk of that increase is due to a $2,500 hike in insurance costs, $3,000 in additional funds for plowing roads and a $5,000 increase to the summer roads and bridges account due to rising fuel and supply costs and to cover work on Jeffrey Road.
    A request for $3,516 from the Northern Maine Development Commission was shot down by voters.
Monticello gathers
    At Monticello March 19, about 30 residents spent 47 minutes debating warrant articles. A municipal budget of $568,188 was approved. The budget is up about $26,000 from last year’s spending plan. Town Manager Ginger Pryor said the increase was due to a need to either replace or repair the town’s salt sand shed.
    “It is need of major repairs, so that is a big reason for the increase,” she said. “We also had an increase to our equipment reserve account. Our equipment is getting used quite a bit, and we just need to be looking ahead.”
    The salt sand shed, which is currently located on Water Street, was an old starch factory that was revamped in the 1990s.
    “We set aside $100,000 this year and will have to do so next year,” Pryor said. “We are still taking quotes on how much it will cost. It all depends on how much the bids come in at.”
    Two three-year seats were up for grabs on the board of selectmen, with incumbent Thomas Good (65 votes) and newcomer Gary Sewell (60 votes) elected to the board. William Lambert received 54 votes, while incumbent Jimmy Burpee garnered 28 votes.
    Incumbent Jennifer Johnston ran unopposed for a three-year term on the SAD 29 school board.
Stacyville elects officials
    At Stacyville March 19, Alvin Theriault was elected to the board of selectmen with 21 votes. Constance Theriault was elected to the RSU 50 school board with 22 votes. The town’s budget was approved at a special meeting in February.
Sherman OKs funds
    At Sherman’s town meeting March 19, a group of 33 residents approved a 2012 municipal budget in the amount of $849,026. According to Town Manager Debbie O’Roak, the budget is “about the same” as last year’s spending plan. No major increases or new expenses were included in the budget, she said.
    Voters authorized the municipality to spend up to $22,000 in grant funds it received to build an extension to the town’s library. Construction is expected to begin this spring.
    Harold Lane was elected to a three-year term on the town’s board of selectmen, while Samuel Sides was re-elected to a one-year term. Both men were running unopposed.