CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Townspeople will decide at the annual town meeting Wednesday, March 10, whether to buy a new German-made ladder truck for about $650,000.

The town’s ladder truck is 21 years old and valued at about $35,000. It can’t get to hard to reach places and is limited by its two-wheel drive capabilities.

The new German Metz “Quint” model is estimated to cost about $650,000. It’s all-wheel-drive.

“It’s a lot of money we’re talking about and unfortunately there was not a lot of attendance at the public meetings,” Town Manager David Cota said. The proposal was recently added to the warrant only because the town truck is considered obsolete and nearing its projected life span of 25 to 30 years.

One article recommends that the town spend $120,000 to buy and renovate the Police Department and Communications Center facilities.

And another proposes repealing the 1986 Town of Carrabassett Valley Comprehensive Plan and adopting a 2004 plan.

Polls open as soon as the moderator is chosen and close at 6 p.m. This year’s ballot includes two selectmen positions, two school board members and two sanitary district trustees.

Incumbents Lloyd Cutler and Robert Luce, and George Abbott are seeking election as selectmen; Jennifer McCormack and Jane Luce are running for the school board; and incumbents Carl Demshar and George Quirk, and Neil Trask are running for the sanitary district openings.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Anti-Gravity Complex.

“We just want people to take their time and come down and vote,” Cota said.

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