Last week was a busy time for local politics as a number of municipalities gathered Monday, March 16 for annual town meetings, while others convened this past Saturday. The following is a recap of those meetings.
Island Falls — A group of 42 residents spent about two hours Saturday discussing town business at the annual town meeting. A total budget of $832,622 was approved. That budget figure is $8,476 above last year (1.03 percent increase).
Jeff Brooks was re-elected to the town’s board of selectmen to a three-year term with 112 votes. He beat out Donald Hallett, 37 votes; and Rodney Willette, eight. Frank Hill was also elected to the select board to a three-year term with 46 votes. Willette had 37 votes for this seat, while Hallett had 12.
All six local referendum questions on the ballot were approved. The first question asked voters if they wished to authorize the selectmen to enter into negotiations with the Hinch/Ahern heirs to partition approximately 9,500 acres of lands owned jointly, in-common and undivided, commonly referred to as the 75/25 lands. That measure passed 115-59.
The second question asked voters if they wished to give selectmen the authority to negotiate terms and accept an offer of $700,000 for 75 acres of land on Map 22, Lot 23. That question passed 107-65.
The third question dealt with the discontinuance of a portion of the Old Patten Road (formerly Route 159) beginning at the Bog Brook Road. It passed 98-71.
The fourth question sought to discontinue a portion of the Jacob Shur Road for a distance of 3,884 feet beginning at Bog Brook Road and ending at the Alder Brook Bridge. It passed 106-62.
The fifth and sixth referendums asked voters if they wished to accept William and Fairfield streets as public ways. Those measures both passed 124-46.
Littleton — In a meeting that lasted little more than 15 minutes, voters approved a municipal budget of $443,397. That budget is up $20,934 (5 percent) from last year.
Incumbent Paul Jacques was reelected to the town’s board of selectmen, but the town was unable to find a candidate for an empty seat on the RSU 29 board. Sandra Henderson previously held the seat, but decided not to seek re-election.
The seat will remain empty until selectmen can find a willing school director.
Oakfield — On March 16, residents approved a municipal budget of $565,042, which is an increase of $24,300 (4.3 percent) over last year’s figure. Town manager Dale Morris said the increase was due to health insurance and debt service payments for a public works truck.
Willis Green and Robert Dickinson were elected to the town’s board of selectmen with 49 and 42 votes respectively. Matt Crandall had 19 votes and Jim Sholler received 18 as a write-in.
Dyer Brook — Only 15 people attended Dyer Brook’s town meeting March 16.
David McLaughlin and Richard Burton were re-elected to three-year terms as selectmen with 14 votes each. Randy Curry received 13 votes to be re-elected as town treasurer and Florence Hardy garnered 13 votes for town clerk.
Barbara Burton was re-elected to the RSU 50 board with 14 votes.
According to Hardy, the municipal budget of $132,122 was approved. That budget is about $4,544 less than last year.
Sherman — Harold A. Lane was re-elected to a three-year seat on the town’s board of selectmen with 29 votes. He was running unopposed.
Rose Marie Bragdon won a two-year seat on the board with 29 votes and Harold Gould secured a one-year seat with 27 votes.
Joshua Qualey received two votes as a write-in for the RSU 50 board. According to Sherman town officials, Qualey was sent a written notice of his election, but it was unknown if he was going to accept the position.
If he does not accept, the board of selectmen will be tasked with appointing someone to the school board.
Voters approved a municipal budget of $339,229. That figure is a $12,180 decrease (3.5 percent) from last year’s budget.
Stacyville — Only 11 registered voters turned out for Stacyville’s town meeting Monday, March 16.
Those voters approved a municipal budget of $366,668, which is a decrease of $41,336 from last year’s budget figure of $408,004.
Alvin Theriault was elected to the town’s board of selectmen with 11 votes, while Glenn Lane was elected to the RSU board with 10 votes.
