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Sunday, April 1, 2007

This small town 18 miles west of Belfast now has an assessor's agent to help determine the value of property.

The vote to hire one, 29-22, was the outcome of lively debate Saturday at the annual town meeting in the Dirigo Grange hall.

Selectmen said they were willing to cut their total pay to $6,000 to have enough money to hire Jackie Robbins as the agent. They said an agent would have more knowledge and could devote more time to determining fair property assessments. Opponents argued the town should be able to take care of itself.

Another debate centered on an attempt to extend the number of recalls that could be filed against a selectman in a year.ÝThe proposed change, which was defeated, would have allowed unlimited recalls. Many people objected to that plan as potential "harassment."

Voters increased the pay of the town clerk, treasurer, tax collector, excise tax collector and registrar of voters, but removed the hourly rates and based the jobs on salaries only.

Proposals to make those jobs appointed instead of elected failed, despite arguments that it would elevate the positions to a more "professional" status.

In elections Friday, Clarence Ronald Price was voted in as selectman, 141-39, over write-in candidate Frances Walker. He replaces Steven Bennett.

Jennifer Turner was elected to the school board. Ernestine Keller was elected by a 143-44 vote over Carol Richardson as treasurer, replacing longtime treasurer Hilary Fleming.Ý