OAKFIELD, Maine — Resident signed off on a $567,107 municipal budget Monday evening during the annual town meeting. The spending plan is $10,270 (1.8 percent) more than last year.
According to Town Manager Dale Morris, the drivers for the raised budget were increases in capital expenditures.
“I expect the mill rate to remain at last year’s rate of $17.96 pending the school budget,” he said.
Two incumbent selectmen — Barbara Branscombe and Anthony White — ran unopposed and were re-elected. White received 31 votes, while Branscombe garnered 22. There were several write-ins with Brent Stover receiving eight votes, and one each for Jim Sholler, John Nadeau and Kirby Hardy.
One of the more hotly debated warrant articles asked voters if they wished to spend $15,000 to purchase a rock rake for the town’s John Deere grader. That article narrowly passed 14-13.
Another issue that generated considerable discussion, Morris said, was an article that would have seen the town expand winter maintenance on the South Oakfield Road. The selectmen did not recommend the article, stating the town would have to invest upwards of $100,000 for equipment and personnel costs.
“While we are sensitive to the full-time residents living on this road, they knew of the town expectations beforehand,” stated the town warrant. “Therefore, we recommend the town reject this article based on the negative fiscal impact.
The article was defeated by a vote of 24-5.
An article to allow Sunday beer and wine sales at local retail commercial establishments also met with voter approval.
