Local municipalities have been busy filling positions and approving budgets for the next fiscal year. The following is a recap of town meetings held in the Houlton Pioneer Times’ coverage area.
Oakfield approves decreased budget
OAKFIELD, Maine — About 30 residents approved a $543,301 municipal budget during Oakfield’s annual town meeting March 18. That budget represents a decrease of $1,665 over the previous year’s spending.
Town Manager Dale Morris said all of the warrant articles were approved during the meeting.
Two new selectmen were elected earlier in the day. Elected to the board were Anthony White, who received 60 votes, and Barbara Branscombe, who received 35 votes. Other individuals running for the board were Matt Crandle, 33 votes; Jim Sholler, 26 votes; and Brian Starbird, 12.
Larry Greenlaw was elected to the RSU 50 school board as a write-in candidate.
Morris added a special town meeting on the proposed property maintenance ordinance would likely be held sometime in June, as will a community forum on the Oakfield Wind project.
Sherman trims municipal spending.
SHERMAN, Maine — A group of 33 residents turned out for Sherman’s annual town meeting Monday, March 18. According to Town Manager Debbie O’Roak, voters approved a municipal budget of $776,903, which is a decrease of nearly $98,000 from the last year.
O’Roak said the reduced budget was made possible by trimming requests made from outside agencies and also reducing the amount of money the town puts aside in reserve accounts, such as the fire department equipment reserve.
“Until we know exactly what we are looking at for revenue reductions from the state, it’s awfully hard to put a budget together,” O’Roak said.
In municipal elections, Jeff Packard was re-elected to a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen with 41 votes; Rose Bragdon was re-elected to a two-year term with 39 votes; and Harold Gould Jr. was elected to a one-year term with 39 votes. Kimberly Lane was re-elected to the RSU 50 school board with 37 votes. All four were unopposed.
The town also agreed to expand its Municipal Recreation Department board membership from seven members to nine.
Littleton budget up slightly.
LITTLETON, Maine — Residents of Littleton approved a $466,401 municipal budget during the annual town meeting March 18 at the Meduxnekeag Ramblers Snowmobile Club. The budget is up $10,886 from last year, due to employee raises, along with the tipping fee at transfer station had increased.
Town Manager Courtney Toby said all the articles, but one were accepted. The exception was “Shall an ordinance entitled Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) ordinance be enacted?
“That was turned down by townspeople,” she said.
Twenty-eight voters attended the annual meeting; however, 37 voted before the meeting for two selectman positions. Colby Shaw and Gordon Hagerman were re-elected to serve the town.
Monticello has slight decrease.
MONTICELLO, Maine — A group of 35 voters in Monticello approved a municipal budget of $562,821 March 18 in a meeting lasting just under an hour, according to Town Manager Ginger Pryor. That figure is down $5,367 from the previous year’s budget.
“Our goal was to keep spending as close to last year’s amounts because of the uncertainty with the state and school budgets,” Pryor said.
The decrease was achieved by reducing the town’s paving account, Pryor said.
William Lambert was elected to the town’s board of selectmen with 80 votes. John Wotton received 35 votes, while Jimmy Burpee garnered 11 votes.
