Town Meetings

St. Francis

The proposed municipal budget, about $800 higher than last year’s budget of $139,451, will be presented to voters at the annual meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, at the schoolhouse.

Charles Ouellette, first selectman, said the increase was for a projected rise in the cost of heat and utilities.

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, March 26, at the town office to elect three selectmen to one-year terms.

Candidates, including Ouellette, are incumbent Bennie Nadeau, second selectman, challenged by Alphie Clavette and incumbent Louise Martin, who is unopposed for third selectman.

Cindy Jandreau is unopposed for a three-year term on the SAD 27 Board of Directors.

Winterville

Town officials have included a $4,000 increase to the proposed $121,832 municipal budget to hot-top the driveway at the town office.

The annual town meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m., Saturday, March 24, at the municipal building. Polls will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 23, at the same place.

“I believe we have enough revenues to offset the increase and not change the mill rate for the municipal budget,” said James Nadeau, first selectman.

The town’s tax rate is $13.20 per $1,000 in property valuation.

The expected referendum question on the proposed withdrawal from SAD 27 will not be heard at the annual meeting. The town is still waiting to hear from the Superior Court on a joint suit filed by the towns of Winterville and Eagle Lake seeking a declaratory judgment.

The towns have asked the court to overturn a ruling by J. Duke Albanese, education commissioner, that a vote to withdraw should not be held until district assets are divided with the two towns. Nadeau maintains that assets should not be divided until it is known whether withdrawals are approved.

Steadily rising per-pupil fees required by the district over the past five years have made it unaffordable to be part of the district and have resulted in the start of the withdrawal process, Nadeau added.

During elections, Mark Berube and James Fecondo are competing for the three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen. Other candidates for office include incumbents Rena Beaulieu, treasurer, and Patsy Crane, town clerk and tax collector, both one-year terms.

Easton

Increases totaling $63,000 for education and county taxes will move up the town’s tax rate by an approximate one-half mill, according to Jackie Bradley, town manager. The annual town meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, April 2, at the Odd fellows Hall. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the town office.

“Our municipal side of the budget is up by $5,000 to $464,087 but will not change the tax rate,” said Bradley. “The school budget has increased $52,000 for the first four and one-half months. We don’t know what it will be for the other seven and one-half months. The county tax is up by $13,000.”

The tax rate now is $18.75 per $1,000 in property valuation.

The municipal budget is down in some areas, such as salaries, because of a shorter pay period in the fiscal year. Highway salaries are lower with the retirement of a full-time employee, who is being replaced by a seasonal worker.

Town officials have included an extra $5,000 in the fire department budget for firefighters’ stipends.

They also propose removing $63,000 from the capital equipment reserve fund to buy a new plow truck and $24,000 from the UDAG fund to buy sound systems for the elementary and high schools.

The proposed municipal budget also calls for using some of the excess funds from the town-owned Grange Apartments building. The amount of $11,500 is to purchase extrication equipment and $10,000 is for a thermal-imaging camera.

At the polls, voters will elect two people to three-year terms on the Easton School Board. Incumbents Gaylen Flewelling and Mary Lee Keep are being challenged by Robert Blanchard and Mia Pangburn.

Incumbent Douglas Blackstone is unopposed for the three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen.

– Compiled by Gloria Flannery