GUILFORD – Residents narrowly approved a yard sale and flea market ordinance Monday after more than 30 minutes of discussion at the annual town meeting.

The ordinance, which will require permits to hold yard sales and flea markets, was approved by a written vote of 26-25.

As approved, a single yard sale permit will cost $1 and an annual permit will cost $4. Residents may hold no more than four yard sales in a calendar year. Flea market permits will cost $10 per month.

Town officials were given approval to apply for federal financing assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and to raise from taxation any matching funds, if necessary, to develop the Don Osborne Memorial Playground, a project being conducted by the Abaris Club.

It is likely that the club will raise the necessary matching funds for the $96,000 project and will not need to use town funds, residents were informed.

As recommended by the Maine Municipal Association, residents agreed to change the town clerk position from elected to appointed during the 2006 annual town meeting.

The move is viewed as a safety net to keep the town clerk’s functions in the town office rather than moved to a private home.

Re-elected to office were Michelle Nichols, town clerk; William Thompson, selectman; Allyn Ward, Guilford-Sangerville Sanitary District trustee; Patricia Davis and Ralph Eastman, SAD 4 board of directors; and Jane Ward, Lisa Martell and Alvin McDonald Jr., Guilford Memorial Library trustees.