Despite some attempts to cut spending on road work, voters at Saturday's town meeting eventually approved borrowing up to $500,000 for the task.

Road Commissioner William Lynds said some of the roads that benefitted from a $1.3 million four-year road plan in 1998 need attention again and by doing all the roads at one time, work can be done at a lower cost.

Robert Worthley, administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen, said 11 bridges in town need work. Voters set aside $100,000 for those projects.

The $1.6 million proposed budget was cut in a few areas, but most major items were approved during the two-hour meeting at Carrabec Community School.

Town Clerk Claudia Viles asked voters to cut $10,000 for computer software, saying that with the uncertainty in the economy, she would continue to do her job without new technology. Voters agreed.

Attempts to reduce the budget for solid-waste disposal failed, and $115,000 was approved.

Selectman Floyd Lane tried to eliminate a proposed $25,000 addition to the North Anson Fire Department and suggested doing $5,000 worth of drainage work instead, but that plan failed. Voters allocated the entire $25,000.

Selectman Douglas Cahill volunteered to cut his work as emergency management director to reduce the budget for special officers, but the street light budget was increased by about the same amount.

Voters reduced the highway department budget by $10,000, doing away with money for uniforms and reducing funding for equipment repairs.

Several attempts to reduce the fire department account failed, however. Attempts to reduce the recreation budget also failed.

In elections, challenger John Bryant ousted Cahill, one of two selectmen who ran for re-election. Bryant garnered 100 votes to Cahill's 59. Incumbent Darrol Bartlett kept his seat, with 60 votes.