MINOT — Selectmen on Monday signed the warrant for the March 5 annual town meeting and directed that it and the town report be sent to the printer.
The municipal budget calls for spending $1,760,789, or about $22,000 more this year.
Selectmen are recommending that voters reject the Fire Department’s request for $40,000 to replace the forestry truck. It they do, the budget would be about $18,000 less than this year’s budget.
The Budget Committee agrees with all of the selectmen’s recommendations.
Selectmen and the Budget Committee are backing a $33,000 increase in the summer paving budget, which would allocate $328,000 for Verrill, North Verrill, Garfield and the lower section of Center Minot Hill roads. The section of Center Minot Hill Road was formerly known as Quimby Road.
Town Administrator Arlan Saunders said the amount budgeted for plowing winter roads is $198,500, an increase of $14,000.
“The town is allowed to overdraft the winter road account, something we’ve done the last few years,” Saunders said. “This figure is about what we’re been averaging lately.”
There is a $10,000 request for a new zero-turn mower to replace the mower which has seen over 1200 hours of use and isn’t expected to last the season.
Selectmen also met with Fire Chief Dean Campbell, mainly to discuss the department’s fundraising program, conducted through the nonprofit West Minot Fire Co.
In the recent past, some money, checks for controlled burns and some donations have gone directly to the town. The warrant will include an article that establishes a Minot Fire Department facilities and equipment reserve account.
In other business, selectmen approved a request from Poland Regional High School Project Graduation to hold a fun-run on the Minot trail system as a fundraiser.
Selectman Eda Tripp, at the request of Selectman Dan Callahan, said there are 45 unpaid property tax bills for 2014, 179 for 2015 and, as of Jan. 16, eight properties in foreclosure.
Saunders said the electrician has hooked the Town Office up to a new generator and all appears to be working fine.
Selectmen announced that they had completed the town administrator’s annual review and said Saunders could keep his keys for another year.
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