BUCKFIELD – About 65 Buckfield residents turned out for the town meeting Wednesday night to discuss the town’s business.

And the crowd meant business.

When Charles Berg moved to consider Articles 7 through 42 as a block vote, he met considerable opposition.

Ken Hicks was one of the opposed. “Why bother to come to these meetings if we lump them all together and don’t get to discuss them all?” he asked.

That comment was echoed throughout the crowd, as several residents took issue with the proposed funding for the American Red Cross, one of the articles in the block.

Moderator Terri Hayes called for the vote, residents voted the motion down.

Hayes announced the outcome of the selectmen’s election, in which Chris Hayward received 188 votes for selectman over incumbent Skip Stanley with 121 and Roger Bennett with 71. Chris Hayward was elected assessor, and the two SAD 39 directors selected were Stacey Raymond and Floyd Richardson.

In budget issues, there was no opposition to funding the administration account at $191,150.

Selectman Stanley explained before the vote that the sum included adding a third person to the office staff and an appropriation to pay Town Administrator Cindy Dunn’s salary until a new town manager can be found. Dunn was later honored by selectmen for her outstanding service to the town.

Voters considered a motion to vote on social services items in a block, with the exclusion of funding for the American Red Cross. Wes Ackley recommended the town give the Red Cross $250, and Berg amended that to $500. Several people spoke about the good the Red Cross is doing domestically and overseas with military personnel. Others mentioned the abuse of money at the administrative level. Though many were opposed, the $500 funding level passed.

Selectmen answered concerns regarding the proposed municipal center landscaping project’s costing $107,500. While one person said he thought it was too much money to spend for too little, others wanted to know why the town was waiting.

Town resident David Chabe cited civic pride. “We need a sense of pride for our town. Visitors come from all over to attend productions at the Oddfellows Theater and they bring money to our town. Others come for other reasons,” he said. “We should be able to entice those who might want to come here to live by beautifying our town.”

Members of the Recreation Committee were present to discuss plans for a state grant for a new playground, and to support their request for $5,000 from the town.

Voters passed all 60 articles and a budget of $1,360,110.74 in a little more than two hours. The figure is $54,984.37 more than last year and will reflect a tax rate increase of 65 cents per $1,000 of property valuation.