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Sunday, March 18, 2007

It took less than two hours for 15 residents to breeze through the town warrant, approving nearly all recommended expenditures and ordinance changes during the annual town meeting Saturday.

Only a shoreline zoning ordinance and a request for funding for the restoration and expansion of the Pittsfield Public LibraryÝwere turned down.

On Friday, George Robison was elected selectman to replace Ricky Basford. Robison was absent from the meeting because he was out of state and delayed by the weather. Carolyn Hamel will serve another term as town clerk, Arlene Miles won the town treasurer's job, Roger Huff is highway commissioner, and Susan Nolan will be the School Administrative District 53 director if she accepts the position.

One of the larger funding requests asked voters to approve spending $101,000 for payment of a road surfacing loan. It passed with little comment.

Later, residents spoke out on a request to appropriate money for snow removal, sand and salt for winter roads. Elaine Derosby wondered why road maintenance costs so much during relatively mild winters such as the two most recent ones. "We didn't have much plowing this year," Derosby said. "Is there any way we can do this different and save some money?"

Board of Selectmen Chairman Stuart Huff said a contractor has to be prepared for a harsh winter. Clayton Turner said most people do not understand how much money is required to rig, equip, maintain and insure snow removal equipment. "This doesn't come cheap," Turner said. "It's a hard racket."

Several articles dealing with town cemetery costs -- including fees for weekday and weekend charges for opening graves for coffins and urns, grave lots, signs and new regulations -- passed.

A proposed shoreline zoning ordinance failed after Huff urged voters to take no action on the question. Huff said the maps have not been finished. He suggested taking up the request at next year's meeting, when the maps are expected to be complete.

Voters turned down a $10,000 request from the Pittsfield Public Library to support restoration and expansion of the library.

-- Blethen Maine News Service