LOVELL – Voters were in a generous mood for the most part Saturday, raising $77,000 more than at last year’s annual town meeting.

In all, the town budget rose to $587,538.

The total tax bill is unknown at this point as the town has not been presented with the county tax bill, which was $99,949 last year, or the school bill from SAD 72, which was $1,988,754 last year.

There were increases to the Fire Department, Planning Board, appeals board, snowmobile club, the milfoil account and the C.E. Hobbs Memorial Library.

The only items that failed were a $360 appropriation to Maine Public Broadcasting, $600 to American Red Cross and $150 suggested for Maine Catholic Charities.

Residents also voted to rescind the Lovell Mooring Ordinance.

Selectman Robert Drew pointed out that there have really never been many problems with mooring in the areas lakes. He said he spoke to a state official who told him that since the town really had no mooring problems it probably did not need a mooring ordinance and therefore did not need a harbor master.

Drew said a harbor master could cost the town about $10,000 and that he did not want to spend even $1 if it was not necessary.

Bill McCormick thought having an ordinance in place would benefit the town, and he questioned the town having an $815,000 surplus and at $10,000 for a harbor master.

Drew assured voters that if an ordinance was necessary one could be re-enacted.

Voters also listened to C.E. Hobbs Memorial Library Director Anna Romer’s plea for more money than the $30,000 the Budget Committee recommended.

She pointed out that the $35,000 she asked the town for is about one-third of the total budget and that statistically the 274 libraries in Maine seek 60 percent to 70 percent of their budget from their home town or city.

Romer also said the Hobbs Library is open 42 hours a week, while the average Maine library is open 26 hours per week.

Nearly 80 people attended the meeting and more than 50 were eligible to vote.

They gave 96-year-old John Fox a round of applause when he walked into the meeting.

The town report was dedicated to Fox, the oldest resident of Lovell.

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