ISLAND FALLS, Maine — A small group of about 17 residents spent just over an hour Saturday approving a new municipal budget topping slightly more than $1 million.
The meeting was a far cry from last year’s event which drew about 50 people and lasted nearly three hours.
“This must have been one of the quickest meetings ever in Island Falls and the most uneventful one also,” Town Manager Jutta Beyer said Monday. “There was not a single amendment (to the warrant articles).”
The total municipal budget approved was $1,024,339, which is an increase of $49,573 from the previous year.
According to Beyer, the major increase was in the public works account, due to several planned road projects this year.
“The neglect of maintenance of the town’s infrastructure for so many years has to be addressed,” Beyer said. “The Road Committee has a 10-20 year plan (for improvements).”
Other contributing factors to the budget hike were salary increases for the ambulance department, and a jump in the town’s insurance costs.
During voting held Thursday, March 15, residents elected two new selectmen to the board. Glenn McNally received 59 votes and Royden Hunt garnered 54 votes to be named to the board. Incumbent Jeff Brooks, who has served on the board for a number of years and was currently serving as chairman, was unsuccessful in his re-election bid with 36 votes.
Incumbent Frank Hill opted not to seek re-election this year.
It marks the second straight year that two newcomers have been elected to the town’s Board of Selectmen. Last year, Tony Bowers and Frank Porter beat out incumbents Paige Colville and Dawn Merry.
In other items, voters repealed a special amusement ordinance for the town as it was no longer required by the state, Beyer said. Residents also agreed to change the annual town meeting next year to either a Wednesday or Thursday evening, as opposed to the traditional Saturday afternoon gathering.
“If we hold our Town Meeting during the week, we might encourage more people to attend,” Beyer said. “We are hoping to get more attendance this way.”
