E-mail this page Reader Comments (below)

Sunday, March 18, 2007

The 41 people who braved the elements to attend Saturday's annual town meeting were in a generous mood.

Voters agreed to add $1,000 to the salaries of each selectman, the treasurer and the tax collector. Fire Chief Onie Lougee's salary had been left off the warrant, so they made sure Lougee got his $2,000 salary, too.

Town Clerk Bette Pratt said residents approved $314,690 in spending, compared to the $310,887 approved last year. That leaves the town within the state limit on growth in spending.

Residents also voted to approve flood-plain management and emergency-management ordinances. They awarded a $1,000 salary to emergency-management director Audrey Bemis.

Residents discussed removing some streetlights in the village, thinking they are not needed, but decided against it.

"It's been standard discussion lately," Pratt said, "but they voted to keep the same $4,500 for streetlights."

In town elections from the floor, all incumbents won without opposition. Levi Pratt stays on as third selectman, while Theresa Pratt remains treasurer. Bette Pratt remains town clerk/excise-tax collector, and Irma Howell is still the tax collector.

Residents will hold a special June town meeting to vote on a school budget.