Strong

BUDGET: Total budget approved was $1,004,088.53 with $591,461 to come from taxes (compared with $577,725 for last year’s budget).

MAJOR ITEMS APPROVED: $103,500 for general government accounts, including $63,000 for administration, $28,000 for town charges, $6,000 for assessing, $2,500 for legal fees and $4,000 for code enforcement; $123,935 for public safety, including $17,658 for ambulance, $32,027 for fire hydrants, $9,000 for street lights, $4,250 for animal control and $61,000 for insurance; $143,000 for highway accounts, including $78,000 for winter roads and $65,000 for roads and bridges; $71,500 for public works, including $12,000 for the town garage, $50,000 for equipment operating, $1,500 for the equipment fund, $8,000 for the pole barn. Up to $35,000 per year from surplus for the special equipment fund for no more than three years for the purchase of a new rubber tire backhoe.

MAJOR ITEMS REJECTED: Residents tabled a vote on appropriating $20,000 for the first stage of the Pond Road Improvement and Paving Project.

ATTENDANCE: 100

CONTESTED ELECTIONS: Rupert Spiller defeated Rupert Pratt for a three-year term on the select board. Jessie Stinchfield and Lois Barker were elected to three-year terms on the SAD 58 School Board. Write-in candidates Rupert Pratt, Bill Burden, Alan Smith, Mary White and Barbara Worthley each received three votes for three seats on the Budget Committee. The Board of Selectmen will meet to determine who will take the available spots on the committee.

REFERENDUMS: None