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Sunday, March 18, 2007

Road Commissioner Rupert Potter came to the town meeting Saturday after a morning of plowing roads. When he left two hours later, he cheerfully relinquished that duty to his successor, Jerry Haines.Ý

"This has to be something for our town record books," Town Clerk Mary Dunham said, laughing. "I don't remember a meeting where one commissioner's started plowing our roads before town meeting and another one finished the job after the meeting."

Thirty-eight attended the annual gathering. They elected John Calloway to fill a three-year term as selectman and Ellen James to serve another term on the School Administrative District 58 board. Avon joined other district towns in approving a pay increase from $10 to $20 per board member for each school board meeting.

Adding up each category's totals, first selectman Joyce Potter figured the final municipal budget of $267,733 was 11.8 percent greater than last year's $239,341, but voters did not have to exceed the budget requested by selectmen.

Townspeople did agree to consider a townwide property revaluation to increase land and buildings from 76 percent of current market value to the state's recommendation of 100 percent.Ý

Voters approved $15,707 for NorthStar ambulance service and allocated $10,409 instead of the $16,415 requested by the town of Phillips for fire protection. The Zone Coalition, which provides youth center activities for the area, received $750.

Taxpayers finally settled a longstanding debate about whether to sell the old schoolhouse that formerly housed town meetings. Costs for insurance and maintenance and lack of progress on an application for historic preservation status convinced voters that the town needs to sell the building.

- Blethen Maine News Service