2013 Town Meetings

March 9

Benton sails through annual business Saturday

By Rachel Ohm rohm@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

BENTON -- There was little debate Saturday at the annual Town Meeting, where residents voted to accept a municipal budget that is slightly higher than the current year's budget.

click image to enlarge

Residents vote on an article as moderator David Benier presides over the annual Benton Town Meeting, inside the Benton Grange Hall, on Saturday.

Photo by Jeff Pouland

click image to enlarge

Benton Town Treasurer Richard Lawrence addresses residents during the annual Town Meeting, inside the Benton Grange Hall, on Saturday.

Photo by Jeff Pouland

In elections Friday, voters also picked a new selectman, a town clerk, a road commissioner and a town treasurer.

"All articles were voted on and passed with very little discussion," Town Clerk Patrick Turlo said on Saturday after the business portion of the meeting.

The proposed budget of $540,000 was approved, Turlo said. The overall increase was about 2 percent greater than the current budget and does not affect the tax rate, he said.

Only one item of consideration at the meeting was amended -- a decision to appropriate $3,000 more for replacement of trees in the town cemetery, Turlo said.

The meeting lasted about an hour and a half and drew about 38 residents on Saturday morning. It was one of the smallest turnouts in the last few years, Turlo said.

In elections, Antoine Morin defeated Robert Morrissette for a seat on the Board of Selectmen. Morin received 199 votes; Morissette, 128.

Turlo was elected town clerk with 211 votes. He defeated Arthur Thompson Jr., who got 106 votes.

In the race for a seat on the school board of School Administrative District 49, Ronald Liberty won the election with 157 votes. He defeated Caroline Lawrence, 111 votes, and Reginald Means, 44.

In uncontested races, Richard Lawrence was elected treasurer and tax collector with 286 votes, and Todd Hunt was elected road commissioner with 289 votes.

Rachel Ohm -- 612-2368

rohm@mainetoday.com

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