At $219,540, the largest expenditure was for education.
GILEAD – Eighty four of the 144 registered voters in Gilead were present and voting at the Town Hall Saturday night.
As an old wood-burning stove drove the chill from the crowded room, the meeting got off to a smooth start.
Voters quickly selected Windy Hanscom as moderator, Linsley Chapman as town clerk, and Beverly Corriveau as tax collector for the ensuing year.
However, the atmosphere became tense as the voters considered Article 4, calling for the elimination of the position of road commissioner held by Fred Corriveau. Innuendoes were made that this was a power struggle between factions in town, but the arguments centered on the financial consequences of the proposal.
After extensive discussion the motion was tabled and selectmen were instructed to provide more complete information at a future town meeting.
The next article was for election of other town officers. Prior to the meeting, Third Selectman Gerald Milot had indicated he was resigning after only one year of his three-year term. He was replaced by Mark Wigley. Milot was the principal proponent of Article 4 eliminating the highway commissioner position.
Second Selectman Arthur Taylor, who was up for reelection, also supported Article 4. He was defeated by Paul Handlen, who won the election by one vote. Handlen had 27 votes, Taylor had 26 votes, and the other two candidates split 30 votes.
Tempers flared briefly when Taylor questioned the competency of one of the voters who is physically challenged. The voter was qualified and properly registered, so the results stood.
Winners of the other positions ran unopposed. They were: Linsley Chapman, treasurer; Beverley Corriveau, school board; Corriveau, highway commissioner.
Following the election, many of the citizens left the meeting. While it had taken an hour and 15 minutes to get through the first five articles, the remaining 39 were passed in 30 minutes with only a few questions and little discussion.
The largest expenditure was for education. The $219,540 item accounts for 54 percent of the $408,399.94 raised by the town. Gilead sends its children to SAD 44 schools, paying a state set tuition of $4,968 for elementary students and $6,627 for high school students.
In recognition of the town’s bicentennial there was an appropriately decorated birthday cake and other refreshments. A video tape was made to preserve the meeting.
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