WEST PARIS – Chairman Wade Rainey welcomed James Johnson, newly elected selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor, to Thursday night’s board meeting.

Johnston was elected at a special town meeting Wednesday to succeed Harlan Abbott who died as a result of a plane crash earlier this fall.

Johnston, a former professional educator, owns Johnston’s Hardware Etc. on Main Street with his wife, Ann, and has served the town for several years on various committees. He has been a member of the Budget Committee, chaired the Town Manager Feasibility Committee and is chairman of the Town Manager Search Committee.

He will serve until the annual town meeting in March 2006.

Following the opening of the meeting, Town Clerk Cheryl Shattenberg reported she has collected $835,271.56 in 2003 taxes to date. Giving a breakdown of the taxes collected Shattenberg explained that $697,247.32 of the total comes from prepaid taxes, or discounted taxes, and $138,024.24 comes from regular taxes.

She also reported that, after checking with homeowners and mortgage companies, regarding 2001 tax liens and foreclosure notices all cases are now up to date.

“I am happy to report all 2001 tax liens are paid in full,” said Shattenberg. “No properties will go the foreclosure.”

Finally she said that taxes still to come in are subject to 7 percent interest unless paid before 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14.

Selectmen also learned from Shattenberg that health insurance for town employees shows an increase for 2004 of $6.78 per week on full family plans from $86.82 to $93.60. However, any plan that covers an employee and children but no spouse will remain the same at $68.14 per week.

The town’s health insurance is covered by the Maine Municipal Employee Health Trust.

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