BY DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer
PALMYRA — Voters at the annual Town Meeting on Saturday agreed to continue funding the town’s community center in the former school, but not to move the Town Office there this year.
The proposal to discontinue funding for the center, located in the former Palmyra Consolidated School, was defeated 93-37 in a secret ballot vote, Palmyra Town Clerk Valerie Sprague said on Sunday.
Donna Cookson, the town’s administrative assistant, said there was some good debate over the three articles concerning the community center.
“There were residents who stood up and spoke on both sides,” Cookson said.
The article to move the Town Office was defeated by a show-of-hands vote and was not close.
In the final article concerning the Palmyra Community Center, residents agreed to appropriate $40,000 — $20,000 from taxes and $20,000 from surplus — to run the center for the coming year. Funding also will come from weekend rent payments for parties and dances, from donations and from space rented by Weeville Daycare.
The town became owner of the building after Regional School Unit 19 closed the Palmyra school in 2010 as a means to cut district spending.
In a letter published in the town’s annual report, Donald Hill, chairman of the Palmyra Community Center Boosters, said there were more than 260 events at the center last year, including weddings, anniversary parties, shows, meetings and receptions.
In town elections held on Friday, J. Patrick White was the winner in a three-way race for one open seat on the Board of Selectmen. White received 117 votes, while Galen Knight received 70 and Daniel Sprague 62.
The position is for a three-year term. Incumbent Selectman Michael Cray declined to seek reelection.
In money matters on the Town Meeting warrant, Cookson said residents agreed to raise $2,000 more for the assessing budget, but aside from that and a couple of other small changes, the spending package was approved as presented to voters at about $718,201, up from last year’s figure of $707,195.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com
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