PORTAGE LAKE, Maine — Following suit with other local towns, Portage Lake’s town meeting allowed residents to voice their concerns to the select board.
Portage Lake held its annual town meeting on Friday, March 25, when residents voted on town warrant articles and enjoyed homemade soups and stews prepared for everyone attending.
All articles in the annual town warrant passed, although article 43 sparked some discussion among members of the community. The article states that the town of Portage Lake will raise and appropriate $60,637 for the use of various services from the town of Ashland.
This accounts for $12,120.25 for the library, $13,918.86 for recreation and $34,597.06 for ambulance services.
Residents said during the meeting that these items should be separated on next year’s warrant, so that they don’t need to pay for services they don’t want to use.
Joel Hall was elected as moderator for this year’s town meeting. Twenty-five people voted in this year’s election. Michelle Eastman was elected to the select board for three years with 25 votes, and Ginger Nelson was elected to the Portage Lake School Board for three years with 25 votes as well.
The 2022 budget for Portage Lake is $532,700, which compared to the 2021 budget of $544,599, saw a decrease of $11,899. Expenses that saw an increase are administration, insurance, waste management, cemetery, social services, street lights and Ashland user fees.
All other departments either saw a decrease in their expenses, or remained the same from the 2021 budget.
Residents of Portage Lake consider warrants during the annual town meeting on March 25. (David DiMinno | The Star-Herald)
