NORRIDGEWOCK — Residents voted to enact an ordinance that would require building permits and make changes to the town’s site plan review process, approved a $1.07 million budget and earmarked $250,000 for a new fire station at the annual town meeting Monday night.
About 50 people attended the meeting at the Mill Stream Elementary School where they voted on 45 articles.
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A new site plan review ordinance that makes building permits a requirement for all residential structures was approved. Although towns of less than 4,000 people are not required to mandate building permits in Maine, Town Manager Michelle Flewelling said permits would streamline the building and planning process and ensure that all residents are paying property taxes.
In the last year, the town has discovered more than 30 structures, mostly barns, camps and other small properties, on which taxes have never been paid, Flewelling said. The state does require plumbing permits for all structures with running water, but requiring a building permit as well will ensure that taxes are being paid and will prevent the town from losing out on future tax revenue, Flewelling said.
The town budget was approved at $1.07 million to come from taxes, a decrease of about one percent from last year’s budget.
Residents also voted to approve $260,510 for administration costs; $117,000 for public safety; $83,040 for the fire department; $534,800 for public works; and $20,516 for the recreation department.
In other articles Monday night, residents voted to approve changing the number of members on the town’s planning board and budget committee. The planning board will now have five members and the budget committee will have seven as part of an effort to ensure quorums are met to validate meetings.
In the final article of the meeting, residents voted to appropriate $250,000 from undesignated funds for a new fire station to be built on Upper Main Street. The money for the fire station is not expected to raise the tax rate, as it will come from undesignated funds as well as TIF funds and capital reserves. Construction could begin in late spring, according to Flewelling.
In elections, every member of the Board of Selectmen was re-elected. Ron Frederick received 84 votes; Jim Lyman, 81; Charlotte Curtis, 71; Sallie Wilder, 71; and Matt Everett, 34.
In other elections, Ron Frederic was elected to the planning board with 83 votes; Charlotte Curtis, 75 votes; and Sallie Wilder, 71 votes. Justin Powers and Charlotte Curtis each received votes as write-in candidates for uncontested seats on the budget committee. Jessica Everett was elected as the town treasurer with 100 votes, and Kerri Everett was elected as town clerk with 25 votes. For the library board of trustees, Gloria Frederick was elected with 96 votes. Robert Farmer received 11 votes as a write-in candidate for the planning board.
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
Twitter: @rachel_ohm
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