Roxbury residents turn out in force

MEXICO – More than 60 Roxbury residents attended their town meeting Monday night at the Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico, nearly doubling last year’s attendance.

They came to elect town officials and establish the town budget for the coming year.

Normally held at the Roxbury municipal building, the meeting was moved to the middle school auditorium this year because it offered a more spacious venue.

Among the elected officials voted into office Monday was Dennis Daniel, who was elected to a three-year term as selectmen.

Daniel will take the seat vacated by Stephen True, and will join Timothy Gallant and Tina Howard on the board.

Delia Knapp was re-elected as town clerk, treasurer, and tax collector and Ann McCrillis was elected to the cemetery committee. McCrillis, who will serve with Clyde Thomas and Priscilla Hodgkins, takes over a position previously held by Sylvia Touchette.

In addition to choosing elected officials, voters mulled 55 budget articles set forth in the town report, most of which passed as written. One article that came up for discussion, and that was eventually amended, called for $400 to pay for regular cleaning of beach property at Roxbury Pond.

After several people commended those responsible for daily cleaning of the public area at Third Beach, the town changed the article to allow for $800 to pay for the service. “You couldn’t pay me $100,000 to do that job,” said one resident. “$400 just doesn’t seem like enough for who does it.”

Another article that allows the town to close a portion of Route 17 along the Swift River passed. The land on which the road runs will transfer to Danny Thomas, who owns the adjacent land. It was suggested that the entire road be closed, but selectmen asked that they be allowed to double check the town map before taking action. They agreed to discuss the additional closure at a future selectmen’s meeting.

Out of 14 requests for financial support submitted by various charitable and non-profit organizations, four were rejected by town voters. Included in those rejected were requests by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce for $1,000, and Maine Public Broadcasting for $100. The town did approve $1,000 for the River Valley Growth Council, $400 for the Adult Activity Center, $500 for the River Valley Health Council, and a total of $3,066 for the remaining requests.

According to information provided at the meeting, the total 2004 budget of around $318,000 approved by the town Monday shows a slight increase of around $4,000 over the 2003 budget. Some of the increase is accounted for under articles for the Oxford Regional Solid Waste Board (up $1,583.75 to $20,109.73), Med-Care (up $672.00 to $4,512), and town building maintenance (up $1,500 to 7,000).

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