TEMPLE — Voters approved a budget of $487,645 and elected a selectman to a three-year term at Monday’s annual town meeting.
David Lovejoy was nominated and elected unopposed to fill the selectman seat by the roughly 50 residents who attended.
“I’ve got some experience with budgets and management,” Lovejoy said. “I’d love the opportunity to help keep the town organized and keep things going.”
Toby Hellgren was re-elected to a two-year term as road commissioner.
Only a few articles generated any discussion.
Resident Rita Smith asked about the Town Office hours.
“Who set up the Monday and Thursday days to operate?” she asked. “I just feel the opening isn’t fair to us as a town.”
Smith pointed out there were several Monday holidays that town employees did not have to work.
The article dealing with town officials’ salaries was amended because Fire Chief David True turned down a $1,000 raise. Instead, he said, that raise should go to Assistant Chief Wayne Tuttle.
“As (fire) chief, this job has changed,” True said. “It’s become so much more administrative.”
As a result, he added, Tuttle has had to take on more responsibilities.
Hellgren said he was concerned about the amount some property owners owe in overdue taxes. He asked about the progress town officials were making in collecting the money.
Selectman Tracy Dunham said there is a lengthy process that the town must go through to address overdue taxes. She added that selectmen have been successful in getting two properties back onto the town’s tax rolls.
Amounts that were raised and appropriated included:
- $25,000 for waste collection;
- $35,200 for town officials’ salaries;
- $14,000 for waste disposal;
- $78,000 for town roads and bridges;
- $75,000 for paving;
- $85,000 for snowplowing;
- $30,000 for winter sand;
- $21,000 for the fire department;
- $8,000 for maintenance of town-owned buildings; and
- $4,000 for the ambulance service.
bmatulaitis@sunmediagroup.net
David Lovejoy, right, speaks to residents Monday at the annual Temple town meeting as selectmen Tracy Dunham, left, and Austin Foss look on. Lovejoy was elected to a three-year selectman’s term. (Barry Matulaitis/Sun Journal)
Moderator Tom Saviello, left, is sworn in Monday by Town Clerk Lou Brackett at the annual Temple town meeting. (Barry Matulaitis/Sun Journal)
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