EASTON, Maine — Easton residents turned out in large numbers to vote on the town’s budget and other business on April 3.
Moderator Kevin Marquis was sworn in to lead the annual town meeting, which had one of the biggest turnouts in recent years, at the Easton Elementary School gym.
Residents approved a $1,806,485 annual budget for 2023.
In annual elections, Bruce Flewelling and Scott Allen won two open seats on the select board, with 104 and 106 votes, respectively. Andrew King and Richard Henderson were elected to two positions on the school board. Henderson received 46 votes and won a three-year term, while King earned a two-year term with 100 votes.
Both Easton Elementary and Easton High School are owned by the town and will hold a separate school budget meeting in July 2023. The schools’ fiscal year runs from July to June, while the town’s goes from Feb. 16 to Feb. 15.
Those attending passed Article 17, which involved ambulance services for $85,800, up from last fiscal year’s $14,800, and waste disposal for $165,000, up from $137,027 in 2022.
The higher costs could move the mill rate up to a projected 17.7, an increase of 1 mill from last year’s 16.7, Town Manager Jim Gardner said. The rate will be calculated once the school board holds its separate budget meeting.
Mapleton’s ambulance services increased similarly because their three-year contract ended, as did Easton’s, Gardner said. For Easton to get their own ambulance service would have cost the town more.
Voters passed Article 25, appropriating $5,000 to purchase and install a used self-contained breathing apparatus compressor in the Easton Fire Department that will refill the air packs firefighters wear on their backs, Gardner said.
Town Clerk Cheryl Clark was recognized for her 30 years of service with the Spirit of America Award. The award is a national recognition from the Spirit of America Foundation, awarded at town meetings for people who have done long-term community service or volunteer work, Gardner said.
“I have loved this job and I was really honored by them recognizing my service of 30 years, and I plan on staying until I retire,” Clark said.
Technology has changed her job in many ways over 30 years, but Clark said she loves doing something different every day for the town.
