NEW VINEYARD – Voters agreed to raise and appropriate a total of $50,000 for work on Barker Road during the annual town meeting Saturday.

Of that amount, $20,000 will be raised from taxation with another $30,000 being appropriated from town surplus money.

Some residents questioned why work will be done from the Farmington town line to Hardy Road when other sections of Barker Road are in worse condition.

Selectman Chair Fay Adams explained that Farmington crews are working on the road up to the town line and the work will be done for continuity. Adams said the work will be done before it gets as bad as some other parts of the road. She said it would take a lot more money to fix other sections of the road.

One resident also questioned why so much money is needed when there is already about $22,000 in that account. Adams said the existing money would not be touched for this project and any money voted on this year that is not used will be saved in the account as well.

Voters cut the amount to be raised from taxation for snow plowing and sanding by $5,000. They approved $40,000 to be raised by taxation and another $30,000 to be appropriated from surplus.

Administrative Assistant Arlene Davis told voters the town received a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency stating that the town will soon receive more than $5,600 as reimbursement for snow plowing costs during storms this past winter. Another check for about the same amount is also expected at some point. That money will go into the snow plowing account, Davis said.

Voters agreed to double the amount the town’s fire chief is paid. “Seven hundred and fifty dollars just doesn’t cut it any more,” Fire Chief Doug Churchill said. Voters raised his pay to $1,500 per year. Voters also agreed to take $10,000 from surplus to help reduce the tax commitment.

Nominations were taken from the floor to elect town officers. Jerry Howard won another three-year post on the town’s Board of Selectmen. Jennifer Nile received 29 votes and Scott Webber garnered 9 votes.

Adrienne Rollo will serve another two-year term on the Board of Selectmen with 47 votes and 18-year-old associate member Wayne Drake was moved up to a voting position on that board with 44 votes. Selectmen will appoint a new associate member to take his place. Long time Planning Board member Leonard Ellis decided not to run again this year.

Earl Luce Jr. will serve as road commissioner from April 1 to Oct. 31. He received 50 votes to Doug Nile’s 22 votes.

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