Voters OK budget
CANTON – Approximately 50 Canton voters met on Saturday and passed 37 articles, accepted an Emergency Preparedness Ordinance and adopted the Pine Tree Zone Municipal Resolution at their annual Town Meeting.
Voters on Friday had chosen Lisa Cummings and Donald Hutchins to fill the two selectmen vacancies; Verrill Scott and Benjamin McCollister for SAD 44 School Board directors; Donald Adams and Marjorie Sudboy for Planning Board; Norris Conant, David Strout and Katheryn Mikshanas for the Budget Committee; and incumbent Craig Gammon was re-elected as Road Commissioner.
Voters approved increases to the General Government/General Administration of $3,890 and to the General Government/Compensation of $677. A decrease of $21,797 in General Government Insurance brought up a question and selectmen said they had overestimated the amount last year.
In Article 9, the amount recommended for the Recreation Department was raised $300 to $5,800 to cover the cost of football participation with Dixfield, which had been carrying most of the cost of the program.
The Fire Department Operations budget increased $2,915 over last year. The town voted to appropriate $5,560 to be used as matching funds for a $55,606 Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Act Grant to be used to purchase air packs and equipment by the Canton volunteer Fire Department.
A $10,000 donation was accepted, which reduced the $50,000 matching funds needed for the Community Development Block Grant for the fire station to $40,000. A motion was made to utilize funds from the Salt Shed Reserve Account, instead of the Municipal Building Reserve Account to meet the $40,000 balance.
Selectmen said it was easier to get grant money to move the town office out of the flood plain than to get a grant for a state-mandated salt shed, which is in the town’s future.
There was an increase of $3,896 in the Protection and Enforcement Article and $500 in the Municipal Building in anticipation of raises in cost for fuel and utilities that the fire department has been sharing.
An increase of $20,00 in the Revaluation Reserve account was explained. The state actually requires towns to be reevaluated every 10 years. It has been 20 years since Canton has gone through the process.
The town voted for the municipal officers to accept and exercise authority over a $400,000 CDBG grant, if awarded. The town will know on April 9 if the town is accepted.
Several state officials were present, including Maine State Sen. Bruce Bryant and Rep. John Patrick.
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