Residents ask officials to resign over tax rift

PORTLAND – A group of Windham residents is seeking signatures on a petition asking two town officials to resign over their attempts to collect a rarely enforced tax.

The proposal, which would have taxed residents $17.30 per $1,000 of assessed valuation on items such as riding lawnmowers, snow blowers and all-terrain vehicles, was abandoned after residents organized against it.

The group that launched a petition drive Thursday says Town Manager Tony Plante and Assessor Bob Tripp overstepped their limits during intense debates over whether to collect the personal property tax, which is part of state law.

“We’re hoping this will be a wake-up call to the town office,” said Lane Hiltunen, the resident leading the petition drive. “It’s a vote of no-confidence for the town manager and the tax assessor.”

Hiltunen, who said he hopes to collect 2,000 signatures, called the petition a “warning shot.”

Tripp said he would not resign, while Plante said he wanted to see the petition before reacting.