MONMOUTH — While the vote to withdraw from Regional School Unit 2 created controversy, voters breezed through the warrant for the annual Town Meeting.

All 26 articles in the warrant passed by at least a 100-vote margin.

“I think voters are generally pleased with our approach with the budget,” said Town Manager Curtis Lunt.

Voters approved a $4,483,725 budget at the meeting which was actually a secret ballot referendum. The budget is up about $20,000 from this year, but Lunt said that increase will be more than covered by an expected $25,000 increase in taxes thanks to new construction.

Voters did approve an 11 percent tax increase in the RSU 2 budget that will increase $24,439,751 next year. The budget passed in every RSU town, which also includes Dresden, Farmingdale, Hallowell and Richmond. In Monmouth, voters approved the budget 474 to 420.

In the only contested race on the ballot, Jon Hamann defeated incumbent Annya Rice, by a vote of 440 to 366, to serve a three-year term on the RSU 2 Board of Directors.

Voters also approved an amendment to the agreement with Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp., in Auburn, to continue handling Monmouth’s waste through 2035. The agreement, originally established in 1986, could be ended with one year’s notice.

Residents agreed to borrow $60,000 to replace the floor in the middle school gymnasium, which the RSU will now reimburse since the withdrawal effort failed.

Voters also altered the fireworks ordinance passed last year, which limits use of all fireworks to only a few days each year. The amendment allows fireworks that have a “negligible sound effect.” The sound could not exceed 45 decibels.

Voters agreed to form a conservation commission to advise selectmen on the protection, development and use of the town’s natural resources and to coordinate activities with other towns and agencies. The commission would have no authority beyond making recommendations.

Craig Crosby — 621-5642
ccrosby@centralmaine.com

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