Town meetings

Blaine

Residents will consider a $183,113 municipal budget and fill three open municipal seats during their annual town meeting Monday, March 27, according to Town Manager Chappy Clark.

Clark said Monday that nominations for the municipal seats will be taken from the floor. There are two three-year terms available for selectman, as well as one three-year term on the SAD 42 board of directors.

Clark said the 2006 budget also will be reviewed during the meeting. The $183,113 budget is up about $1,800, or 0.5 percent. The town manager said that though energy costs are up, the town made a concerted effort three years ago to budget enough money so “we don’t have to worry about it.”

He said that, based on the municipal budget, the mill rate should remain at 18.5 mills.

The annual town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 27 at the Blaine Civic Center.

Easton

Voters will consider the budget, five municipal seats and a liquor option during this year’s annual election and town meeting on April 3, according to Easton Town Manager Jackie Bradley.

Bradley said Monday that the liquor option is on the election ballot because local residents circulated a petition on the matter. The town voted in 1993 to allow the sale of malt liquor in town. This referendum question asks whether residents want to allow the sale of all other types of liquor in Easton on all days except Sunday.

Easton Town Clerk Cheryl Clark said polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the town office.

There are three positions for selectmen – one two-year term and two three-year terms – and two three-year terms on the Easton school board.

In a contested race, Bruce Flewelling and Keith Richardson are seeking the two-year term.

Incumbents Michael Corey and Paul Dudley are running for three-year terms.

On the school board, incumbents S. Todd Bradley and David Hopkins are seeking the three-year terms.

After the election, residents will gather for the annual town meeting to discuss the 2006 municipal budget, which stands at $669,662. Bradley said that town officials plan to offset the expenses with $185,000 in revenues and $255,000 from the town’s surplus.

The town manager said that this year’s budget is up about $47,000 or 7.63 percent, mostly due to insurance, solid waste costs and energy costs. While fuel prices have shot up, Bradley said that solid waste prices have increased by about $10,000 this year. She said tipping fees at Tri-Community Landfill “have gone up $3 a ton and we keep hauling more there every year.”

Bradley said she does not know yet what the overall mill rate for the town will be because she is still waiting on town valuation and school figures. She said, though, that she does not anticipate that the municipal budget will effect an increase in the mill rate. Easton’s mill rate for 2005 was 20.75.

The annual town meeting will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, April 3, at the Easton Elementary School cafeteria.