Town meetings

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Castle Hill

Residents elected municipal officials and passed a $220,107 town budget last week during the annual town meeting and election, according to Castle Hill Town Manager John Edgecomb.

In elections, Herman Condon and Robert Smith sought a single three-year term to the Board of Selectmen. Smith secured the seat.

Voters approved write-in candidate Willard Doyen III for a three-year term as a town assessor.

They also approved the municipal budget, which showed a $7,179 increase from last year.

Edgecomb said Wednesday that the small increase was because of the expansion of a clerk position at the town office from 20 to 40 hours. The town manager said insurance costs went up, as did outside requests for expenses such as ambulance and solid waste.

Despite the increase, Edgecomb said, Castle Hill will see a status quo budget as revenues also are up by about $10,479. He said the increase was mostly because of payments received from the town’s wood lot.

By Rachel Rice

Chapman

During their annual town meeting Monday night, voters approved a $289,147 budget, according to Chapman Town Manager John Edgecomb.

For elections, residents had only one municipal office and one candidate on the ballot. Patricia Sutherland won a three-year term to the Board of Selectmen.

Voters also accepted the municipal budget, which has an increase of $4,397 from last year. The town manager cited the expanded clerk’s position at the town office and increases in insurance as factors driving this year’s budget.

Edgecomb said Wednesday the town likely will have a status quo budget, though revenues are down by about $116 from what they were last year.

By Rachel Rice

Mapleton

Locals voted last week to accept a small increase in the 2005 municipal budget, approving it for $749,393, according to Mapleton Town Manager John Edgecomb.

The $25,476 increase from last year’s budget was mostly because of the same factors as Chapman and Castle Hill, Edgecomb said Wednesday.

The three towns share administrative services at a single town office.

Edgecomb said the budget is in good shape as revenues in Mapleton are up by $2,379 this year, and property values also are up significantly.

The town manager reported that Mapleton saw 23 new homes built last year, adding about $3.5 million in additional value to the town.

With the anticipated increase in valuation, the town manager expects the final budget, which will include education costs and county tax figures, to be close to flat.

In the town’s elections, Christopher Patterson and James Burrill sought one open three-year term to the Board of Selectmen. Burrill won the seat.

David Maxcy won a three-year term for town assessor as a write-in candidate.

Vernon Boyce secured a three-year term as a sewer district trustee.

By Rachel Rice

Westfield

Residents elected one municipal official and passed a $259,766 municipal budget during their annual town meeting and election last week, according to Richard Watson, chairman of the Westfield Board of Selectpeople.

Town officials took nominations from the floor for a one-year term to the Board of Selectpeople. Susan Fulton was re-elected to the position, Watson said Wednesday.

Voters also approved the municipal budget, which was up about 1 percent from last year, though Watson said municipal revenues were up about 3.5 percent.

Factors driving the small increase included salary adjustments and insurance and energy costs, Watson said.

By Rachel Rice

St. Agatha

Residents gathered for about half an hour Tuesday night to go through two dozen articles for the town’s 2005 warrant and approve a $580,362 budget, according to St. Agatha Town Manager Ryan Pelletier.

The budget shows a $6,000 increase from last year, mostly because of cost-of-living increases and anticipated repairs to one of the municipal public works trucks, Pelletier said Wednesday.

Town elections also were held Tuesday, with Jean Martin securing re-election to a three-year term on Board of Selectmen.

Write-in candidate Dale Chamberland won a three-year term on the SAD 33 board. The seat was left open by Dan Bechard, who had held the position for more than 20 years.

Residents also approved two orders of discontinuance for roadway maintenance to Ayotte Road and Paradis Road.

By Rachel Rice

St. Francis

Residents elected seven municipal officials Monday and approved $152,829 for municipal expenditures in 2005 at their annual town meeting Tuesday night.

The municipal amount does not include the town’s share of the Aroostook County tax or SAD 27 expenses for education.

Residents also approved the transfer of $120,000 from excise tax collections to lower the town’s property tax rate in 2005.

The only contested election Monday was for the position of second selectmen. Incumbent Benny Nadeau was re-elected by a vote of 124-108 over Cole Pelletier.

Unopposed for re-election were First Selectman Charles Ouellette, Third Selectman Louise Martin, Town Clerk, Treasurer and Tax Collector Deborah Jandreau, all for one year, and Louise Martin, trustee of the water district for three years.

Seventeen people attended the 65-minute meeting moderated by Alton Martin.

By Beurmond Banville