Town meetings

Cornville

Voters took less than an hour Saturday to dispense with 31 warrant articles. In action repeated across the state, Cornville residents appropriated more for road upkeep than in the past. They approved $145,000 for winter roads.

Voters also approved taking $110,000 from surplus funds to pave parts of three roads, Ames, Oxbow and Revere School.

In the only contested race, Joseph Parker unseated incumbent Albert Smith for a SAD 54 seat, garnering 67 votes to Smith’s 20.

Solon

After much discussion, Solon voters approved purchasing a new tandem-axle truck for the public works department at Saturday’s annual town meeting. About 60 people turned out to approve a $481,000 budget.

Some residents felt the purchase would provide greater efficiency and save fuel while others said it was unnecessary.

The purchase will be funded through insurance funds, surplus accounts and a five-year loan.

Voters defeated a citizen-proposed article to raise $4,000 to breach the Fall Brook Dam to allow fish passage, opting to wait until a study by the Maine Inland and Fisheries Wildlife division is completed.

Voters approved raising $5,200 to ease an ice and runoff condition on French Hill Road. The problems are caused by improper drainage.

In the only selectman’s race, Sarah Davis unseated incumbent Daniel Keegan by getting 101 votes compared with Keegan’s 62.

Ripley

About three dozen Ripley voters approved the overall $213,000 municipal budget at their annual town meeting Saturday, a budget that is tight, town officials said, but still will result in a tax rate increase because of a new middle school being constructed in Dexter.

Town Clerk Vernal Sinclair said the tax rate should rise from $11.45 per $1,000 of valuation up to a possible $14 per $1,000.

Other articles approved included $5,000 for updating the town’s computerized assessment records, $20,000 for solid waste removal and recycling, and $10,000 to the Dexter Fire Department for emergency protection.

Michael Mower was elected a selectman and Andrew Seavey was re-elected a selectman, according to Sinclair.

Hartland

Weather postponed the Hartland annual town meeting to 9 a.m. Saturday, March 22, but elections still were held Friday.

Mike Brown was elected to the seat vacated with the passing of Harlow Powers, defeating challenger Michael Gould. Brown had 86 votes while Gould received 35.

There were no candidates for an SAD 48 seat, but Alison Ramsdell and Kimberly Godsoe each collected one write-in vote. The town clerk will contact the women to determine whether either is willing to serve.

St. Albans

A winter storm postponed the annual town meeting to 9 a.m. Saturday, March 8, but Friday’s elections were held as scheduled.

William Keating unseated incumbent Peter Denbow by a vote of 113-84. Kevin Brown was re-elected to the SAD 48 board of directors. Stacey Desrosiers was re-elected town clerk and Ronnie Finson won re-election as road commissioner.

Budget committee members elected were Ron Fowle, Dennis Smith and Michael Wiers.

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