2013 Town Meetings

March 16

Belgrade gives OK to minor budget increase, stamps all Town Meeting articles

By Paul Koenig
Staff Writer

BELGRADE -- Residents approved all items on the warrant at Saturday's annual Town Meeting, endorsing a budget that increased less than 1 percent from last year's.

click image to enlarge

Daisy Scout Madison Wills, 6, watches the Belgrade town meeting on Saturday in the Belgrade Community Center for All Seasons. Wills was part of a group of Brownie and Girl Scouts assisting with the meeting and holding a bake sale. The Boy Scout Troop 453 color guard performed a flag ceremony to open the meeting.

Staff photo by Joe Phelan

The issue that garnered the most discussion -- adding running water and a bathroom to the transfer station -- ended up being pared back from the original proposal and was approved with little objection.

Around 75 residents attended the meeting, held at the Belgrade Community Center for All Seasons.

No proposals were rejected Saturday, and the only warrant item rejected during Friday's secret-ballot election was a $2,500 request from Kennebec Behavioral Health.

The warrant proposed spending $25,000 to install a bathroom and heated trailer at the transfer station, but town officials told residents that a trailer wasn't needed.

They amended the ordinance to request $16,000 to install a septic system and well at the property.

Selectman Ernie Rice, who was re-elected Friday, said the Board of Selectpersons thought it was critical to get the employees running water for health and safety reasons.

Acting on other one-time requests, voters approved $10,000 for a municipal pickup truck, $4,250 for new signs throughout town, and $12,500 for a brine solution system to assist in melting ice and snow on the roads.

Voters in Friday's election elected Richard Damren, a former selectman, to the seat on the Board of Selectpersons left vacant by Penny Morrell's decision not to seek re-election.

Maurice Childs, a former road commissioner, defeated the current road commisioner, Kevin Hawes, to regain his old position.

Paul Koenig -- 621-5663
pkoenig@mainetoday.com

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