WELD — Voters on Friday will select three town officials and on Saturday will be asked to decide on several capital improvement projects and the hiring of an events coordinator.
Voting will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Town Office complex, and the town meeting will reconvene at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Town Hall.
Selectman and Budget Committee Chairman Ben Hout is seeking a three-year term on the board. He was elected to complete the remainder of a term last year.
Hout said he wants to help his town run efficiently, and he has accounting and cash flow experience.
Incumbent Naomi Doughty is running for a five-year seat on the Planning Board.
No one is running for a seat on the Regional School Unit 9 board of directors. Nancy Crosby is not seeking another term.
Several articles on the warrant concern capital improvement projects needed to maintain town buildings.
Voters will be asked to raise or appropriate funds for the following:
• New quick attack pumper, $250,000;
• Replacement of the Town Office/Post Office Complex roof, $30,000;
• Replacement of the Town Hall roof, $30,000
• New well at the Town Hall; $16,000;
• Mount View Cemetery expansion, $12,000;
• Town Office/Post Office Complex parking lot repairs, $7,000;
• Mill Street garage, $5,000; and
• Veterans’ monuments repairs, $5,000.
“The select board feels these need to at least be addressed as soon as possible,” Hout said.
Selectman Chairman Tom Skolfield said a lot of money was put into the Town Hall in preparation for the bicentennial last year. The roof is almost 40 years old and the asphalt shingles need to be replaced.
Skolfield said Weld lacks a good water source. A new well at the Town Hall could be a year-round water source, he said.
“The pumper is a very expensive venture,” Skolfield said. “There is a need for it, but this may not be the year.”
He said many cottages and homes are located on narrow camp roads that are difficult to get to in an emergency. The pumper could be used in those situations as well as in future droughts.
Hout said two alternatives will be presented for the pumper: purchasing it outright or financing it.
“The pumper would give the town the best protection possible considering the recent drought, the remoteness of the area and the need for access to a large number of properties,” Hout said.
Skolfield said the veterans’ monuments need repairs. Moving them to the Town Office/Post Office Complex would allow year-round access.
“The select board recommends these improvements be done in the shorter term,” Hout said. “It will be less expensive if done sooner rather than later.”
Voters will also consider hiring an events coordinator for the Town Hall. If approved, the person would be paid by commission rather than wages. Town Clerk Carol Cochran currently oversees use of the hall.
pharnden@sunmediagroup.net
At the Weld Town Meeting Saturday, March 4, several issues relating to the Town Office/Post Office Complex will be discussed.
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