enlarge Photo by Jason McKibben

Patrick Turlo, left, deputy town clerk in Benton, voices his opposition to a recall ordinance at Saturday’s town meeting at the Benton Grange Hall. The ordinance, which would have allowed voters to remove an elected official from office, was voted down.

Both during Saturday's annual town meeting and Friday's municipal elections, voters expressed confidence in the town's elected officials.

An official tally was not taken Saturday, but by a comfortable margin, residents rejected an ordinance to recall elected officials. The ordinance would have allowed 25 people to sign a petition and present it to the town clerk.

On Friday, Selectman Ryan Liberty and Town Clerk Julie Morrison easily won re-election. Liberty defeated Robert Morrissette 257-102, while Morrison got 271 votes to 89 for challenger Herbert Thompson.

Also Friday, residents voted to keep the town clerk's tenure at three years, instead of a proposed one-year term, by a 255-110 vote.

Eagle Scout Connor Pillsbury led the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance on Saturday. Pillsbury is the first Eagle Scout in town since Chris Hood, in 1973.

Contrary to usual practice, this year's meeting allowed residents to recommend increased appropriations. Deputy Town Clerk Patrick Turlo explained that this was possible because each spending article carried only a Budget Committee spending recommendation, and no specific amount in the question itself.

Voters promptly raised the sum for road paving from $261,500 to $331,500, as amended by Road Commissioner Ken Dudley.

Dudley said the added money would allow the town to include Wyman Road on this year's list. Mark Brown, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, urged caution because this year's excise-tax collection is down.

Dudley said the town could "back off a little" on road paving next year, and Liberty agreed with him that it might cost more to include Wyman Road next year.

At Herb Thompson's suggestion, voters did agree to cut one spending article.

Thompson noted that the $3,425 request from the Family Violence Project was more than double last year's call for $1,570. The Family Violence Project is "top-heavy with administration," he said.

Brown said 22 Benton families benefited from the Family Violence Project, a nonprofit that serves the needs of people who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse. But no one from the agency was present to argue for the increased funding, and Liberty said it should not be up to a town official to speak for the request.

Dwight Lanning argued for the Family Violence Project, noting that domestic abuse is increasing.