Exeter

It was a question of funding dirt roads versus paved roads, and dirt emerged the victor at the annual town meeting Monday.

In a written vote of 61-17, residents rejected a recommendation by selectmen to borrow $500,000 to rehabilitate the town’s 6 miles of paved roads; rather, they voted to raise $100,000 for improvement to the town’s 38 miles of dirt roads.

The condition of the washboardlike dirt roads frustrated some residents, who told town officials Monday that they expected treatment equal to those who live on paved roads.

One resident said he had replaced five tires and three struts on his vehicle in recent months. Another said he drove 50 to 100 yards in mud that was as high as the rocker panels on his vehicle. Rocker panels run along the bottom of the car body beneath the doors.

Selectman James Crane said selectmen had spent considerable time assessing the condition of the roads and discussing what the best course of action should be. “Believe me, it hasn’t been easy,” he told residents Monday.

Since residents in previous years had approved spending to pave the 6 miles of road, some town officials felt it best to rehabilitate those potholed paved roads now. To do that, they had recommended using $60,000 in a reserve account and borrowing $500,000.

“It’s probably one of the biggest votes in the past 20 years,” Crane said of the road issue.

Town officials were told that it would be unfair to ignore the condition of the dirt roads and invest all of the money in paved roads only to see them deteriorate in five years.

Residents did approve the board’s request for $35,000 for grading and culvert work and $80,000 for special summer road projects.

They voted to increase the recommended $150 for Operation Graduation for graduating seniors to $250 and voted to decrease the recommended amount of $300 for Penquis CAP to $100.

Stephen Colbath was re-elected selectman.

Monson

Residents embraced a budget Monday at the annual town meeting that will require less funding for municipal services than the previous year.

Residents authorized selectmen to accept a Community Development Block Grant of $154,500 for a new drainage system on North Guilford Road. The grant requires the town to borrow $52,000 as a local match, according to Town Manager Julie Anderson.

Residents directed selectmen to investigate a cost-share for health insurance. The town pays 100 percent of the health premiums for town employees, but some residents suggested employees should be contributing a share.

Gary Tabor, who chose not to seek re-election to the Board of Selectmen, was replaced by Shawn Nelson. The seat was contested by Christine Sargent.