EASTON, Maine — The town of Easton held a municipal election on Tuesday, July 14, and its annual town meeting a day later at Easton Elementary School.
The meeting — traditionally held by the town on the first Monday in April — was delayed because of previous restrictions by Gov. Janet Mills on meetings of 10 or more people. A total of 32 people attended the gathering — well under the 50-person limit under Mills’ current order — which Town Clerk Cheryl Clark said was comparable to meetings in past years.
Moderated by Kevin Marquis, the meeting finished after 39 minutes.
The town hall meeting was preceded by an election for selectmen and school board positions on Tuesday, July 14, in conjunction with other elections across Maine. A total of 199 voters went to the Easton Odd Fellows’ Hall/Community Center to vote.
Scott Allen and Bruce Flewelling were both re-elected to three-year terms on Easton’s Board of Selectmen. With voters able to choose two candidates, Flewelling received 184 votes and Allen 177. Four other candidates received a single vote each.
Jeffrey Clark was unanimously elected to a three-year term on the Easton School Board, receiving 191 votes. He had been serving on that board on an interim basis.
Though Cheryl Clark said COVID-19 did not come up at the meeting, there were signs of the times in the room. Chairs were placed six feet apart to ensure social distancing. Masks were recommended but not required by the town — some chose to wear them, while others didn’t.
Cheryl Clark said there were plans to move some people to a separate room if more than 50 people attended. As the group was 18 people-short, that did not need to occur.
Residents approved all of the town’s budget items with little controversy. They approved $330,000 for the highway department, $275,000 for the Town Road Improvement Fund, $203,000 for town administration, $120,000 for the tri-community landfill, $100,000 for an equipment reserve account, $99,000 for recreation and $88,000 for the Easton Fire Department.
Decisions were also made on how funds from accounts would be used. About $347,000 was taken from the Town Road Improvement Fund that will, in part, be used for summer road maintenance. Additionally, $46,000 was taken from an equipment reserve account to buy a new pickup truck with a plow for the highway department.
While most who attended were Easton residents, one notable exception was Maine House Rep. Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, who is running for a seat in the Maine State Senate.
Despite the circumstances and previous delay, Cheryl Clark said the gathering differed little from previous ones for the 1,100-strong town east of Presque Isle.
“It felt like a normal town meeting,” Cheryl Clark said. “Everyone came in and sat in their chairs and abided by what was required of them.”
