This year the town plans to pave two roads, depending on the cost.
By Noreen Coolidge
Special to the Sun Journal

TEMPLE – Voters agreed to raise and appropriate $45,000 for the town road paving account during the annual meeting Monday.

Of that amount, $30,000 will be raised by taxation and $15,000 will come from a road block grant.

Last year townspeople asked selectmen to look into how much it would cost to pave every road in town. They received one estimate for $800,000. Officials said they have not yet looked into the cost of a chip seal process, but plan to soon.

This year the town plans to pave two roads, depending on the cost. Selectmen and the road commissioner decide which roads are paved. If voters decide at some point to raise the entire amount all at once that could mean a 25 percent tax increase. Voters agreed that paving a little at a time is most feasible for the town.

Voters also raised $85,000 for winter roads, with $60,000 to be transferred from excise taxes. Another $10,000 for the road construction reserve account is to be transferred from excise taxes as well.

Nominations were taken from the floor for the election of town officers. One person was declared the designated voter and cast a lone ballot. Marie Andrews remains town clerk, tax collector, excise tax collector and treasurer. Raymond Nile remains road commissioner.

George Andrews won a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen, taking the spot of Robert Stevens who is retiring after 18 years of service to the town. Townspeople gave Stevens a standing ovation.

Stevens thanked the townspeople for their cooperation during his years of service. “Everybody knows when their time has come. The other day I was walking through the cemetery and a couple of guys were following me with spades,” Stevens quipped.

State Rep. Thomas Saviello attended the meeting and asked townspeople to contact him with their concerns and ideas.

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