NEW SHARON — The town held its annual town meeting on Saturday at Cape Cod Hill School, which included 29 articles and the swearing in of new town officers including selectperson, road commissioner, water district trustee and Regional School Unit 9 representative.

According to Town Clerk Pamela Adams, 206 voters took part in Friday’s election at the Town Office.

Kathleen Reis defeated Dennis McCourt, 101-92, in the selectperson’s race. Reis will replace Travis Pond, who has served on the Select Board for nine years.

Mercy Hanson was elected to a five-year term as water district trustee with 29 write-in votes, John Edward Pond was elected to a three-year term as road commissioner with 186 votes, and Gerald A. Provencher Jr. will join the RSU 9 board of directors with 177 votes. Provencher will be replacing Judith “Libby” Kaut, who chose not to run for another term.

The Town Warrant included 29 articles and former state Sen. Tom Saviello served as moderator. Pond, along with Select Board members Paula Nason and Kevin Libby, were in attendance.

Adams, the town clerk, announced the winners of the election as part of Article 2, and followed with a moment of silence for those in the community who died in the last year. “We lost 19 people this year in New Sharon,” Adams said.

All articles passed, including some with amendments.

Article 17, which was originally written as “Shall the Town set the date of 30 days from mailing after which interest shall be charged at the rate of 8% per year, or part thereof, on taxes unpaid after that date,” was amended to 60 days and the interest rate was set at 4%.

Article 21 was amended to correct the year to 2024.

Article 25, which would authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a multi-year franchise agreement with internet and cable television provider Spectrum/Charter at no cost, was amended and heavily discussed among the town and Select Board. The article was amended to include a special town meeting to vote on the agreement once it has been discussed.

Skepticism over the nature of the multiyear agreement having no cost was voiced by several people. Many of those in attendance were uneasy with a multiyear commitment without more information shared with the general public. The amended article passed 39-16.

The articles as originally written can be found on the New Sharon website. For more information or questions, call the Town Office at 207-778-404.

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