LISBON — Residents approved two town referendums, one regarding what time of year School Committee members are elected and one for a bond to repair a bridge and road in town.
The town will borrow $650,000 to build a bridge and fix Burrough Road. During a May 2 storm, the bridge was damaged and there currently sits a temporary bridge, which needs to be replaced. It will cover the design, permits, repairs, replacements and improvements to the bridge and roads, with an estimated interest rate at 5.3%. Residents approved the bond by 1,662-618 votes.
Town officials have reached out to U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, for federal funding for the project but it is uncertain if he will be able to retain those funds. If he does not then the town will use the bond to finance the project.
The charter change allows School Committee members to be elected on the second Tuesday of June along with the school budget referendum. Committee members were elected during the November general election. Residents approved the referendum questions 1,913 to 352.
Residents voted to reelect Fern Larochelle to the Town Council over his challenger, Scott Gaiason, by a vote of 1,409-768. The town had a candidate forum to ask questions of all candidates regarding town matters in October, which Gaiason did not attend.
In all other town races, which were unopposed, Allen Ward was elected to a three-year Water Commission term, and Leonard Lednum was reelected to a two-year School Committee term. It is unclear if a write-in candidate was elected to a three-year School Committee term but no one ran on the ballot for the seat.
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