March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Abbot voters decline request for winter road maintenance> SAD 4 board of directors incumbent defeated

ABBOT — Residents made it clear on Monday that they did not want to take on additional road maintenance at this time.

Residents at the annual town meeting defeated 50-15 an article that would have allowed the opening of the Lower Bates Road for winter maintenance.

Deborah Goodridge, one of two people who live on the stretch of road that was closed by the town in 1978, had requested consideration of the winter service.

It was a general feeling among taxpayers, according to Selectwoman Janice McAllister, that the couple were aware the road was closed when they moved to that location.

In a surprise move, Linda Gilbert was defeated 28-17 by Cindy Fortier for representation on the SAD 4 board of directors. Gilbert was serving as SAD 4 board chairman.

Robert Kallgren was returned to the board of selectmen, Alice Weymouth as town treasurer, and B. Lorraine Leeman as town clerk, tax collector and registrar of voters.

The approximately 60 voters approved most of the 42-article warrant as recommended, with a few exceptions. A request from Penquis Community Action Program of $1,142 was reduced to $300, and a request of $200 from the Hope House, a substance-abuse treatment center in Bangor, was tabled. No funds were approved for the Charlotte White Center, a social agency for handicapped and mentally disabled people, in Dover-Foxcroft.

Rather than take $1,200 from taxation for the repair of the Hearse House, a cemetery storage building, and $1,000 to purchase town hall chairs, residents agreed to use leftover funds in the town hall flooring account.

Residents also approved the creation of a public landing account to include both Whetstone and Piper Pond landings and to fund the account with boat excise taxes.


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