Smithfield residents will consider updates to five ordinances this weekend at Town Meeting, along with an $808,081 municipal budget.

The budget is up about $9,000 from last year’s approved $799,634 municipal budget. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Smithfield municipal building. The town election will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Municipal Building.

There are no major changes to any of the budget line items in the 63-article warrant, though some of the larger items that residents will be asked to approve include $127,779 for the pay of town officials and employees, $60,000 for waste management, $159,273 for winter road maintenance and $34,500 for Fire Department operations.

Residents also will be asked to consider changes to five ordinances, including a stipulation that could be added to three ordinances requiring the Board of Selectmen to hold a public hearing before setting or amending fee schedules. The stipulation is being proposed for the building notice ordinance, the mobile home park ordinance and the subdivision ordinance. It is already part of the shoreland zoning ordinance and the wireless facilities ordinance.

Changes are also proposed for the Commercial-Industrial Site Plan Review Ordinance, requiring stricter regulations on filing applications for site plan reviews; and an expansion of the minimum lot size ordinance to include properties that do not have a dwelling or commercial building on them, as well as those that do.

Finally, residents also will consider raising $500 for future leap year celebrations. The town was incorporated on Feb. 29 of a leap year.

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The election includes one contested race. Molly Gould Chapman is running against Dale Bud Churchill for second selectman.

Chapman, 34, is a branch supervisor at Skowhegan Savings Bank. She said her background in finance would provide good experience for serving on the Board of Selectmen.

“I absolutely love my town,” Chapman said. “I believe that while the current Board of Selectmen has done very well over the past few years, there are some areas where we could grow as a town.”

If elected, Chapman said, she hopes to focus on getting more people involved in town affairs after a successful 175th anniversary celebration last summer.

“I’d like to see some fresh ideas and give people a chance to come forward with their ideas or the changes they’d like to see in town,” Chapman said. “I’ve run a strictly honest campaign and I’m proud of the amount of dignity and respect that my family and supporters have shown each other.”

Churchill did not return a call seeking comment Friday.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm


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