It took just 45 minutes for voters to dispense with a long list of warrant articles at Friendship's annual town meeting earlier this week (March 20).

"There was absolutely no discussion on any of the articles," Selectman Wes Lash said. "I think it's because the people found that our spending wasn't too bad. We tried to keep spending to a minimum this year."

Residents approved a $679,475 municipal budget, a 3.7 increase from last year.

"If you can keep an increase to around 3 percent, you've done a good job," Lash said.

Voters did authorize $25,000 to pay the town of Waldoboro for ambulance services and $5,000 for a fireworks display that will be staged in July to celebration Friendship's 200th anniversary.

Lash said the town's inability to find volunteers to man its ambulance on a full-time basis was a factor in the decision to supplement the service by using Waldoboro. If no one locally is available to answer an emergency call, Waldoboro will respond.

Earl Bachelder, who ran unopposed, was elected to the Board of Selectmen. He joins Lash and selectman Arthur "Buddy" Thompson Jr.