MAPLETON, Maine — The tri-towns of Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman held three separate in-person town hall meetings to approve budgets, spending and elect officials.
“Legally, we can’t have the town halls virtually,” Joe Conant, town clerk for the three towns, said. “We have to be present to vote. We had chairs six feet apart and we followed COVID-19 precautions. We provided masks, face shields.”
Voting in Mapleton was on March 15 in the Mapleton Lion’s Hall; Castle Hill voted on March 16 in the Castle Hill Grange Hall; and Chapman voted this week on Monday, March 22, at the Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club.
Conant said the numbers attending were cut down a bit, but they were able to vote and move forward into the coming year.
“All articles passed, there were no disputes and no major questions,” Conant said.
In Mapleton, there was a six-way write-in tie for sewer district trustee and Kevin Nightingale accepted the position, according to Conant.
Incumbent Selectman Barry Buck was re-elected with 17 votes; first-time candidate Travis Mastro was elected to the Board of Selectmen with 16 votes and he is replacing Selectman Grant Clark.
Keith Doyen was elected town assessor, as a write-in candidate. He had five votes.
All articles in the Mapleton warrant were passed, including the 2021 budget of $1,097,415, up $50,847 from 2020.
In Castle Hill, uncontested incumbent Shari Cheney was re-elected to the Board of Selectmen and as town assessor with 16 votes; and write-in candidate Allen Michaud was also elected, replacing Selectman Herman Condon.
All articles in the Castle Hill warrant were passed, including the 2021 budget of $338,717, up $26,494 from 2020.
In Chapman, incumbent Selectman and Assessor Milford Maynard was re-elected and Selectman Terrance Hanlon was re-elected. Both races were uncontested.
All articles in the Chapman warrant were passed, including the budget of $406,167, up $27,295 from 2020.
