Road work, salt and sand form the only areas of disagreement between the Dresden selectmen and members of the Budget Review Committee.

The disagreement revolves around the amounts the boards recommend for approval by voters at the Town Meeting, which begins 9 a.m. Saturday at Pownalborough Hall.

The meeting warrant shows that selectmen recommend spending $355,354 for the highway account, while the Budget Review Committee prefers to hold the line at the current year’s amount of $310,900.

Allan Moeller, third selectman, said the increases reflect more money for paving since about a mile of the outer end of Calls Hill Road is due for complete reconstruction, and that he anticipates the cost of both salt and sand rising as well as the need to fully restock for the upcoming season.

“Usually we have a salt and sand surplus,” Moeller said, but those products were all used up during the past winter.

The selectmen’s recommendation also includes $187,354 for the first year of a new snowplow and ice control contract. Last season’s cost was $181,900.

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Two articles on the warrant involve boat landings, one on the Kennebec River and one on the Eastern River.

Voters will be asked to appropriate $22,000, if needed, for a proposed boat ramp on the Dresden side at the base of the new Kennebec River Bridge. According to the warrant, most of the project cost would be paid by the Maine Department of Transportation.

Another article asks whether voters will allow money from the estate of Inge Foster, who died May 21, 2011, to be used to restore land near the original Middle Bridge over the Eastern River.

The land would be used to create a carry-in, carry-out boat launch.

The warrant says the intent of the project, to be known as Patterson Landing, would be to “provide a pleasant and peaceful place to observe the river and to create safe access to the river for canoeists, kayakers and fishermen.” It also says no additional town funds would be used.

Moeller said he had concerns about both projects because of the need for parking, and he wanted to check with people living on both sides of the road.

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The total of the municipal appropriations, as proposed, is $733,479, an increase of $28,754 over the current year’s, which is a 4 percent increase.

Moeller said that while the municipal budget rose little, he anticipated an increase in the property tax rate because of the increased cost of the schools.

Following the Town Meeting, a reception will be held to swear in newly elected and appointed officials.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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