Mapleton holds annual town meeting

MAPLETON, Maine — Mapleton held its annual town meeting on Monday, March 15, at the Mapleton Lions Club. The townspeople voted for several community positions, swore in their annual moderator and passed multiple articles.

The meeting began with the town selectmen giving the American Spirit award to Girl Scout Troop 1133, and the Boston Post cane award to Mapleton resident Lyle Kenny, 93.

The town voted for Wesley Lavigne as moderator for the third year in a row.

All articles in this year’s warrant passed unanimously. Mapleton’s town budget was increased by 4.3 percent from 2021, according to Town Manager Sandra Fournier. The town has increased revenue projections, which result in an estimated 0.15 mill rate increase or less than 1 percent. 

Mapleton’s expense budget for 2022 is $1,140,570, which when compared to the 2021 budget of $1,093,061, saw an overall increase of $47,509. Departments that increased were general government, highway, fire, property services and reserve accounts. Departments that reduced their budget expenses were recreation, public safety and community services.

Mapleton’s revenue budget for 2022 is $870,595, which compared to the 2021 budget of $728,878, saw an overall increase of  $141,717. By increasing revenues, Mapleton is able to hold a fairly flat mill rate, with an increase of less than 1 percent. The 2021 mill rate was 16.15 and the 2022 mill rate is 16.30.

In this year’s town election, 49 residents cast their votes. Matthew Gregg and Scott Young were re-elected to the town select board with 36 and 35 votes, respectively. Leigh Smith was elected as the town assessor with 36 votes, as well as elected to the Sewer District Board with three write-in votes. 

Barry Buck, Gil St. Pierre, Chris Beaulieu, Leroy Shepherd, Kevin Nightingale, Amos Dean, Vernal Dean and Bob Boucher all received one write-in vote each for the Sewer District Board.

This year’s meeting minutes and warrants will be made available on the town of Mapleton website.