Voters also decided to ban the consumption of alcohol on town properties.
WELD – Voters at the annual town meeting Saturday eliminated the position of constable and raised the transfer station attendant’s pay to $10 an hour.
Discussion about the constable position centered on new training regulations and concerns about town liability. According to information presented at the meeting, Weld has been the only town in Franklin County with a constable for several years.
Voters eliminated the post after hearing Constable Leo Buck would still be employed as a Franklin County sheriff’s deputy.
“The only difference you should see is a different color hat when we come to the door, said Franklin County Sheriff Dennis Pike.
Waste transfer station attendant Joe Webster claimed his training and responsibilities were valid reasons for the town to raise his wage from the $8.50 per hour he received under last year’s article to $10. Voters agreed.
Voters decided to have selectmen appoint a committee to research possible solutions covering bulky waste or bulky waste containers and submit a recommendation before June 30. In addition, $5,000 will be put into an account designated for the recommended solution.
The state Department of Environmental Protection requires the waste be covered and a representative has told town officials something should be done very soon.
One option considered involved constructing a containment building for about $20,000. Some people, including Selectman Laureen Pratt, said they had concerns about putting the proposed building on a landfill.
Voters decided to ban the consumption of alcohol on town properties, including the ball field, town parks and Town Hall. Selectmen said they thought an alcohol policy of some sort should be in place for weddings and other summer functions scheduled for the coming months.
No action was taken on a request by the Weld Winter Wildcats snowmobile club to build a year-round storage shed at the town garage. However, the club will continue to receive money from snowmobile registrations for use in grooming town trails.
After the meeting, Town Clerk Carol Cochran quickly put together some numbers that showed the town will need to raise a total of $219,331.64, a decrease of $2,691.84 compared to last year.
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