LIVERMORE FALLS — Voters rejected 12 articles Tuesday, including several pertaining to a proposed $2.25 million budget and a property maintenance ordinance.
Townspeople voted 148-135 to allow the town to operate on its current budget until a new one is approved. The proposed budget was $45,774 less than the current budget.
Residents elected two new selectman. Laurie Sanborn won over incumbent Jeffrey Bryant by a vote of 179-95 for a two-year term.
In uncontested races, Selectman James Collins received 222 votes. Ron Chadwick, a Budget Committee member, received 21-write-in votes for the same 3-year term on the Board of Selectman. Kenny Jacques, a former selectman, received 221 votes to serve a one-year term on the Board of Selectmen.
Tammy Frost was re-elected with 240 votes to serve a three-year term on the RSU 73 Board of Directors.
Police, fire and highway department budgets passed in votes of 162-126, 196-92 and 175-113, respectively.
Municipal budget articles failing were elected officials, $38,350, which includes Board of Selectmen by a 136-151 vote; administration,$197, 861, that includes town manager and treasurer salaries, in a 131-155 vote; contractual, $266,934, which includes ambulance, street lights and hydrants, in a vote of 134-149.
Also going down were code enforcement, $15,108, by a 140-148 vote; Maine Paper & Heritage Museum, $1,000, in a 137-153 vote; Chisholm Trails, $1,000, in 137-151 vote; capital improvements, $66,960, by a 130-155 vote; debt service, $26,590, in a 139-144 vote.
In addition, residents rejected loaning the Jug Hill Riders Snowmobile Club $8,600 from town surplus to buy grooming equipment for the trails in town. The town would have kept the excise taxes for snowmobiles as payment until it was paid off. The club was approved for a similar deal a few years ago for equipment and reimbursed the town in 18 months instead of four years, as estimated.
Also failing were increasing the tax levy, if necessary, 94-189; a changeable sign ordinance, 106-171; and property maintenance ordinance, 87-200.
Voters favored removal of the town from Androscoggin County and its annexation to Franklin County. This allows town officials to study if this makes financial sense for the town.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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