Town meetings

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Blaine

Local residents will consider 36 articles during their annual town meeting, which will be held at the end of March, Town Manager Chappy Clark said Tuesday.

Clark said that’s about the average number of articles for Blaine, which will consider the proposed $185,810 municipal budget. The town manager said that’s an increase of about $2,500 from last year.

Residents also will elect one selectman and one SAD 42 board member during the meeting. Nominations will be taken from the floor.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the Blaine Civic Center.

Bridgewater

Residents will consider purchasing a new pickup truck and fire engine during their annual town meeting next week.

Town Manager Amanda Dow said the warrant for the meeting is “business as usual for the most part” but includes a couple of new articles.

“We’re asking if the town will authorize the selectmen to expend up to $26,000 from the highway equipment reserve account for the purchase of a new pickup truck and plow,” Dow said.

The road commissioner will use the truck.

Voters also will consider whether to transfer $10,000 from the unappropriated surplus account to the fire equipment reserve account to help pay for a new fire engine. The Fire Department recently received a $166,250 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the purchase of a new firetruck, but needs to make a 5 percent match.

Residents will not be voting on a proposed budget at the annual town meeting, because a budget meeting already was held on Feb. 7. At that time, residents approved a $280,485 municipal budget, an increase of $87,429 from last year.

Despite what looks like a big increase, Dow said it’s more a matter of organizing the highway operating account.

Traditionally, the town has appropriated $50,000, as well as a portion of excise tax revenues, to the highway operating account. This year, the town appropriated $130,000 to the account. It will use the total excise tax revenue it collects to reduce the property tax commitment. The change will create a firmer budget for the highway, Dow said.

“Hopefully, it’s going to be a wash,” she said.

Before the town meeting, residents will have a chance to vote in the annual municipal elections. Five positions are up for vote, including one three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. Incumbent Keith Kingsbury is running unopposed for the position.

There are two seats opening up on the school committee. Incumbent Roland Richardson is running unopposed for the three-year term; Nina Bradstreet, also an incumbent, is running unopposed for the two-year seat.

Dow is running for the one-year terms as town clerk and town treasurer.

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, March 19, at the town office.

The annual town meeting will be held an hour after the polls close, at 7 p.m. at the old town hall, 485 Main Road.

Castle Hill

Local residents will be reviewing a warrant that looks very similar to the one they saw last year, Town Manager John Edgecomb said Tuesday.

“Except for an ordinance on standards for mobile homes, it’s all routine,” he said.

The proposed municipal budget is $226,786, an increase of $5,975 from last year. Insurance, fuel and salaries were driving the increase, Edgecomb said.

In town elections this year, there are two selectman-overseer of the poor positions and one assessor seat open. All are three-year terms. Incumbents Willard C. Doyen III and Maylen Kenney are running unopposed. Robert Vigue is running unopposed for the assessor seat.

Election polls will be open from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the Grange Hall. The town meeting will follow immediately at 7:30 p.m.

Chapman

Local residents will be voting on a straightforward budget and a warrant that has no special items, Town Manager John Edgecomb said Tuesday.

The proposed 2007 budget stands at $294,707, an increase of $7,134 from last year.

Residents will vote on one seat for selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor. Kevin Carter, an incumbent, is running unopposed for the three-year term.

Elections by paper ballot will be done during the annual town meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the town hall on Town Hall Road.

Mapleton

Town residents will consider a $801,720 municipal budget during their annual town meeting next week, Town Manager John Edgecomb said Tuesday.

The budget reflects an increase of $34,709 from last year. Edgecomb said the increase is being offset by growth in the town.

“Our growth in Mapleton was significant enough that I do not expect to see much of a mill rate change,” he said.

The town manager said the town saw a $2.5 million increase in value, mostly from new home construction. Mapleton had 16 new homes built last year.

The mill rate was at 13.8 last year. Edgecomb said he expects it to be no more than 14.1 mills this year.

In elections this year, incumbents Richard Hoffses and Joseph Powers are running against Shawn Doyen and Ryan Kenney for two open three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen. Scott Smith, an incumbent, is running unopposed for a three-year term as assessor.

The Mapleton Sewer District also has an open seat. Incumbent Scott Smith is running unopposed for the three-year term.

Election polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, March 19, in the Mapleton Elementary School cafeteria. Voting will be immediately followed by the annual town meeting.