Much like the tradition of setting the clocks ahead each spring, March also signifies the beginning of another annual rite of spring — town meetings.
For many communities, the town meeting is as much of an opportunity to cast one’s ballot on warrant articles and elect representatives for town and school government, as it is a chance to visit socially with individuals whom they may not have seen throughout the long winter months.
Not every town conducts its annual business in March, however, as some communities have opted to follow the fiscal cycles of local school departments.
The following is a listing of upcoming town meetings in the Houlton Pioneer Times’ coverage area that the newspaper was able to confirm by presstime.
Amity — Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m. at the Reed School Building. One seat on the town’s board of selectmen and one seat on the school board are available. Both are for three-year terms. Individuals will be nominated for those positions from the floor.
Crystal —Monday, March 16, 7 p.m. at the Wesleyan Church located at 348 Winding Hill Road. The polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on that same day at the Crystal Town Office. Two seats that are three-year terms on the town’s board of selectmen are available. Patrick York and Phyllis Chambers currently hold those seats. One open seat (3-year term) is also available on the RSU 50 school board. According to town officials, the 2015 municipal budget is $156,205 (not including education and county tax costs), which is a decrease of $924 from last year.
Danforth — Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. Elections take place Friday, May 8, from 4-8 p.m. Available are a one-year seat — sought by Charlie Parker — and two-year seat — sought by Greg Mailman — on the town’s board of selectmen. One seat is also open on the school board with one candidate, Theresa Shelton.
Dyer Brook — Monday, March 16, 7 p.m. at the Dyer Brook Town Office. The polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Running for two three-year selectmen seats are incumbents David McLaughlin and Richard Burton. Seeking re-election to the RSU 50 school board is Barbara Burton. Randy Curry is seeking re-election as town treasurer and Florence Hardy is running for town clerk/manager.
“If the warrant articles pass as recommended by the selectmen and budget committee, it would result in a decrease of $13,004,” Hardy said. “However, the loss of revenue sharing, the school budget figures and the County tax, will grossly affect the bottom line.”
Island Falls — Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m. at the municipal building. The polls will be open Thursday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Two selectman seats are available, with one candidate, incumbent Jeff Brooks, on the ballot. Terry Dwyer decided not to seek re-election and no other individual took out nomination papers, according to Town Manager Dave Dionne.
There are six local referendum questions on the ballot this year. The first asks if voters wish to authorize the selectmen to enter into negotiations with the Hinch/Ahern heirs to partition approximately 9,500 acres of lands owned jointly, in-common, and undivided, commonly referred to as the 75/25 lands.
The second question asks voters if they wish to give selectmen the authority to negotiate terms and accept an offer of $700,000 for 75 acres of land on Map 22, Lot 23.
The third question deals with discontinuance of a portion of the Old Patten Road (formerly Route 159) beginning at the Bog Brook Road.
The fourth question seeks to discontinue a portion of the Jacob Shur Road for a distance of 3,884-feet beginning at Bog Brook Road and ending at the Alder Brook Bridge.
The fifth and sixth referendums asks voters if they wish to accept William and Fairfield streets as public ways.
The proposed budget is $832,622, which is $8,476 more than last year (a 1.03 percent increase).
“It was a good year overall for the town,” Dionne said. “We enjoyed an unexpected dividend check from the company that provides our workers compensation insurance. The board and budget committee will be using the savings from this to put into some much need roads repair this year.”
Linneus — Monday, May 4, 7:30 p.m. at the fire station/community building. The polls will be open from 2-7 p.m. Up for grabs are three seats on the town’s board of selectmen, with two candidates — Todd Palmer and Mike White. Mark Nason vacated the third seat after he moved. There is also one open seat on the SAD 70 school board. Mark Ganzel currently holds that seat.
Littleton — Monday, March 16, 7 p.m. at the Meduxnekeag Snowmobile Club. The polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the town office. Incumbent Paul Jacques is seeking re-election to the board of selectmen for a three-year term. There is one available seat on the RSU 29 board, with no candidate. Incumbent Sandra Henderson decided not to seek re-election. Write-ins for that position will be accepted.
Ludlow — Ludlow’s town meeting is in July. No date has been set as of presstime.
New Limerick — Monday, March 30, 7 p.m. at the town office. The polls will be open from 2-6 p.m. Tana McNutt is seeking a three-year seat on the town’s board of selectmen, while Bradley Fink is seeking a two-year seat on the SAD 70 board.
Oakfield — Monday, March 16, 7 p.m. at the Community Center. Additional information was not available.
Patten — Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. at the Patten Fire House, 27 Dearborn St. Voting will be from noon to 6 p.m. Two candidates ó Richard Schmidt III and Sally Landry ó are seeking two available 3-year seats on the board of selectmen. Myron Baldwin resigned from the RSU 50 board, leaving a vacancy.
At town meeting, a municipal appropriation of $698,171 will be presented to townspeople. That figure is about $45,000 more than last year. According to Town Manager Teri Conklin, if the budget is approved as presented it could result in a 1.5-mil increase over 2014 for just the municipal portion of the budget. The RSU 50 budget and County tax would also impact the mil rate.
The two biggest factors for this increase are the fact that last year the town took $50,000 from its unassigned fund balance, to reduce the tax commitment, and this year only $25,000 is being proposed. Also, there is an extra article for $18,000 to hire NMDC to assist the town with completing its comprehensive plan.
Sherman — Monday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. at the town office on School Street. Polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Harold A. Lane is seeking a three-year seat on the board of selectmen, while Rose Marie Bragdon is vying for a two-year term and Harold Gould Jr. a one-year term. There is one open seat on the RSU 50 school board, with no candidate for the position. Write-ins will be accepted.
Stacyville —Monday, March 16, 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall. Polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Glenn Lane is seeking a seat on the RSU 50 board, while Alvin Theriault is running unopposed for a spot on the board of selectmen.
