Grand Isle

Despite a challenge raised by four residents to the proposed $30,000 salary and benefits for the town’s administrative assistant, voters approved that warrant article, 38-6, at the March 25 annual town meeting.

That financial package was unchanged for Gerald Blier, who has held that position for nearly two years.

Challengers said Blier’s position was not worth that amount of money and that Blier had not been successful in obtaining grants for town projects.

Support for Blier’s job performance was reflected in vocal response to the opposition and in the overwhelming vote in his favor during the 30 minutes spent on the issue.

Voters also re-elected three incumbents to office. They were Daniel Dionne, selectman for three years; Helen Marie Sirois, clerk and treasurer for one year; and Carmen Daigle, school committee, three years.

Blier said the $134,320 municipal budget, down by $14,767, dropped the tax rate by 1.2 mills.

The general government account was increased $3,500 for expenses relating to operation of the renovated town office building. Voters also approved $4,000 for signage at that facility. The public works account rose by $3,000 for higher fuel and heating costs. The purchase price for two Scott air packs raised the fire protection budget by $2,000.

Budget reductions reflected final payments last year for town office renovations and the end of five annual payments for land purchase.

County taxes went up by $400 for a total of $16,189.

Blier estimated that education bills, when they arrive, will reduce taxes by 1.4 mills. Last year, taxpayers were assessed $30,000 less for education by taking that sum from a carry-over balance. Added to the $74,000 they did appropriate, the $104,000 education cost was met. At that time, they also designated extra funds for future tuitions in an account that now has a balance of $200,000.

Voters raised a 20 percent match, or $2,000, for a $10,000 community development planning grant.

“The town has grown by leaps and bounds,” Blier said Wednesday of his community of 518 residents. “We bought a new highway truck last year for more than $100,000 and paid cash for it. The community center is being used more by the people and we have a new town office.

“Everything is looking up. These things couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of the people.”

Oxbow Plantation

Twenty-one of the plantation’s 54 residents gathered Saturday evening for the annual town meeting and elections, which lasted a little over an hour.

They approved a $57,000 municipal budget, which was $3,200 higher than a year ago.

First Assessor Steven Sherman said Thursday a decision to transfer a smaller amount from the surplus fund this year to support the budget will raise the tax rate of $18.25 per $1,000 in property valuation, by perhaps as much as 2 mills.

Voters raised more in taxation to maintain the 3-mile Oxbow Road than in past years to enable the surplus fund to grow.

The town’s contract for fire protection with the town of Masardis remained at $1,730. At $1,048, the contract with Ashland for ambulance service was down about $100.

Voters gave $600 to civic and service organizations.

They elected incumbents to one-year terms. They were Linda Alverson, town clerk and tax collector; Steven Sherman, first assessor; Carl Sherman, second assessor; Gloria Nelson, third assessor; and Judy Dow, treasurer.

Town officials don’t know how much education will cost this year. Last year they paid $55,000. They are unsure if the county tax, at $7,718 last year, will change.

Sherman said the tax base had broadened with the construction of several new homes and renovations to older homes in the last couple of years.

“We are seeing an influx of people from other states who are buying and fixing up older homes for seasonal homes,” he said. Snowmobiling, hunting, fishing and a desire for a quieter lifestyle are drawing people to the area, he added.

The plantation’s population dipped from the high 60s in the last Census to 54 in 2000.

“We are running out of young people,” said Sherman.

The community, located about 20 miles from Ashland and 40 miles from Presque Isle, had one birth last year and none the year before.

“Sometimes we go for years without one,” he said.

Bridgewater

At their March 24 annual town meeting, voters approved a $182,814 municipal budget that was up by $7,000 over last year.

The increase included $5,000 more for solid waste disposal; $1,500 more for payroll taxes and $1,000 more for the public library at Mars Hill.

A total of 35 residents disposed of the 31-article town warrant in 60 minutes.

Most of the discussion centered around voter concern that enough money be allocated to highway and Fire Department operating accounts. Voters decided to appropriate the same amounts as they did a year ago – $50,000 for highways and $23,000 for the Fire Department.

The town signed a seven-year contract in February with Boyd’s Pine Tree Waste Inc. at $6,700 per year to haul 60 tons of solid waste. Anything hauled after that amount will cost $105 per ton.

Voters raised a total of $10,000 for the sanitation account, which includes expenses at the local transfer station.

A total of 85 voters elected officers at the polls during the day. Amanda Dow was re-elected clerk and treasurer for another year.

Seats in the three-way race for the two three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen were won by Fred Whited, with 71 votes, and Dottie Wheeler, with 50 votes. Roderick Collins had 35 votes.

Both candidates for the Bridgewater Grammar School board were unopposed for re-election. They were Wendy Bradstreet and Nina Bradstreet.

Garfield Plantation

According to First Selectman John Orcutt, the community’s tax rate may go up from $1.48 to $2 per $1,000 in property valuation to support expenditures for town government, education and county tax.

The plantation has the lowest tax rate in the state, Orcutt said Thursday.

The $120,000 total budget shaved a little money from the budget that funds repairs of the former schoolhouse, now the town hall.

The 29 voters who attended the March 29 annual meeting and elections took care of business, including 30 warrant articles, in about an hour.

They continued the $750 per-year scholarships to four-year college students from Garfield.

They also gave a one-time donation of $1,000 to the Veterans Cemetery at Caribou.

The total cost of contracts with the town of Ashland for fire protection, ambulance service, library and recreation were down a little this year, said Orcutt, who has served 25 years in his position.

He estimated that education for Garfield students would be close to $60,000, up about $4,000 from a year ago. He also expected that costs involved in the 911 emergency program would raise the county tax beyond the $5,400 required last year.

Voters elected Orcutt to another three years as first selectman. They also elected Chester Condon and Guy Clark to five-year terms on the planning board.

Elected to one-year terms were Lisa Clark, clerk and tax collector, and Michelle Gillis, treasurer.

– Compiled by Gloria Flannery