Washington

Come Saturday, residents of this Knox County town will vote on a 2005 budget that totals $712,737 before revenue reductions. That represents a slight decrease over this year’s budget, Washington Selectman Donald Grinnell said. He said estimated costs are down by less than 1 percent.

But first, voters will go to the polls Friday to cast ballots for one selectman and the town treasurer, as well as to decide on amendments to several town ordinances.

In adding up all the proposed expenses on the town warrant, the total is $712,737, which includes spending $124,904 for the town’s share of Knox County costs and $51,168 for road improvements. The road costs will be paid for through a block grant fund. The town’s share of SAD 40 expenses is not yet known. Last year, Washington’s share of education costs was $984,542.

The amount of General Fund revenues to be applied to the 2005 budget to reduce taxes will be $376,301.

Some of the costs that make up the budget are: administration, $59,788; salaries and benefits, $69,438; solid waste, $34,323; and road maintenance, snow removal and related operations, $233,143.

The town’s 2004 tax rate is $16 per $1,000 of assessed value, Town Clerk Cheryl Ten Broeck said, noting the new rate will not be known until the town budget is voted on and SAD 40 costs are determined.

At the polls Friday, voters will choose one candidate for the position of second selectman. Longtime incumbent Douglas Daniel and newcomer Kathleen Ocean will vie for the three-year seat.

The town clerk will run unopposed for a one-year treasurer’s seat, which she now holds. There are no SAD 40 director seats open.

Voters will also cast ballots on several amendments to the land use ordinance and one change to the mining ordinance. Residents will also consider adopting an updated comprehensive plan.

Balloting for town offices will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 25, in the Bryant Community Room at the town office. Annual town meeting will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26, at Prescott Memorial School.

Morrill

Saturday’s town meeting was the quickest in memory – and Hilda Sheldon has a long memory.

Selectman Roger Roberts said Sheldon has attended scores of town meetings over the course of her 86 years, and when she pronounced this year’s two-hour session the shortest in memory, he wasn’t about to argue.

“It was the shortest she could ever remember, and she’s been to a lot of them,” Roberts said Tuesday.

Residents of the Waldo County town approved all the spending items proposed by selectmen and also gave members the authority to look for land for a new cemetery. The Morrill Village Cemetery is close to being filled, said Roberts, and it was past time to find a new location. “We’re going to be checking prices and will be coming back to the town when we have some ideas,” Roberts said.

He said the town’s 2005 annual budget represents a slight increase over the previous year but should not result in an increase in taxes. Roberts was uncertain whether he could promise the same on school and county costs, however.

“We kept the budget in line so as not to go up in taxes,” he said.

During their deliberations, residents also set aside $3,000 as matching funds in the event the town is successful in obtaining a state grant to update its comprehensive plan.

Residents also approved a recommendation to change the election of selectmen to staggered terms. Before the change the three-member board had been elected yearly.

As a result of the change each of the incumbent selectmen was re-elected, but Roberts was elected to a one-year term; Mark Sheldon, to a two-year term; and Keith Thompson, to a three-year term. When Roberts’ seat comes up for election next year, it will be for three years. The same will be the case when Sheldon’s seat comes up for election in 2007.

Donna Dolin was re-elected town clerk and treasurer, Albert Jackson was re-elected tax collector, Madeline Merrithew, excise tax collector, and Jeff Woodbury, animal control officer. Sue Greeley, Bill Vachon and Tom Flacke were elected to the planning board, and Hillary Budet was elected board alternate.

At the conclusion of town business, residents were treated to a lunch prepared by volunteers from the Morrill Community Center.

Jackson

Incumbent Selectman David Greeley was re-elected to a three-year term at Saturday’s Jackson town meeting, besting challenger Roger Murray by a vote of 34-18.

Town Clerk Heather McLaughlin said the selectman’s race was the major issue of the morning meeting as residents passed the town warrant in less than two hours.

“There really were no major issues,” McLaughlin said Tuesday. “It was real quick and easy.”

In the other municipal races, Fire Chief Donald Nickerson Sr. was unopposed for re-election.

McLaughlin said the budget items recommended by the selectmen won voter approval and that the bottom line should be “slightly” lower than last year.

McLaughlin said a proposed ordinance dealing with regulations for rental housing never made it to the floor because it was not posted in the period required to place it on the warrant. She said the planning board intends to bring the matter back to the voters later.

Friendship

Voters gave the go-ahead Monday to building a $280,000 town office near the library.

They also elected town officers. On Tuesday, residents approved all but one town meeting request.

They rejected a $1,204 request from the American Red Cross in Rockland, which was the subject of significant discussion. People voiced several concerns, including displeasure with the service and difficulty in getting details of services provided in Friendship, said Town Clerk Joel Fearn.

At the polls Monday, taxpayers voted 185-113 for a new municipal office. It requires borrowing $160,000 and taking $120,000 from the capital reserve account.

The town office is designed to have 2,400 square feet of space, plus 60 square feet for a vault. The office now has 140 square feet. A construction start or completion date is not known. Selectmen have the matter on Monday night’s agenda, he said.

The building loan will consist of five annual payments of $33,348, according to Fearn. The town bought the land in 2001.

As a result of voting, the 2005 municipal budget is roughly $656,000, up 1.6 percent from last year’s budget.

The town’s share of Knox County costs is $175,425, slightly less than 2004. Its portion of SAD 40 expenses is not yet known.

The tax rate is now $12 per $1,000 of assessed value. The new rate is not known.

Wesley A. Lash beat Kendall Delano Jr., 210-91, for a three-year selectman’s seat previously held by Karl Pitcher, who did not seek re-election. Stephen T. Hensel topped Jim Bolen and Lura Robinson with a 204-63-30 vote in the race for a two-year seat left vacant by the death of Carl Mueller in November. Two years remained in that post.

SAD 40 director John Lichtman and Assessor Caroline Zuber, who ran unopposed, were re-elected.