ROXBURY – Nearly 60 people elected two new selectmen, and turned down several thousand dollars in social service and other requests at the annual town meeting Monday night.
Action on the warrant’s 59 articles took nearly four hours, Selectman Tim Gallant said.
The evening began with a brief history of the town and cake to mark the town’s 170th anniversary of incorporation.
Gallant said a committee will soon be formed to plan events for the town’s 175th birthday.
Alan Hodgkins, a self-employed contractor who has been involved in town affairs, was elected to a three-year selectman’s term. He won over Mike Patenaude by a vote of 28-11.
Christine Howard was elected town clerk.
MeadWestvaco employee Douten “Dan” Thomas was also elected to finish two years on a selectman’s term.
Running unopposed for another three-year term on the SAD 43 Board of Directors was MeadWestvaco employee Mark Touchette.
Former Town Clerk Delia Knapp was elected to a three-year term on the Cemetery Committee.
Residents approved a $189,347 operating budget, which is an increase of about 17 percent over last year’s figure.
Much of that increase is the result of raising a $17,200 match for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of $154,800 for the purchase of a new firetruck. Residents also added $2,000 to the requested $4,000 for the operation of the Roxbury Fire Department. Gallant said the additional money is needed for training on the new truck.
Other increases are the result of higher insurance, animal control and solid waste disposal costs.
Voters approved dividing registration money received by the state between the local snowmobile and ATV clubs.
By a 22-21 vote, residents rejected a request by the River Valley Growth Council for $1,000 to help run the organization.
Gallant said some people don’t see the town as benefiting from membership.
Residents also turned down requests by Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice, Tri-County Mental Health, SeniorsPlus, Western Maine Transportation, Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, Families in Crisis and the Rape Education and Crisis Hotline, primarily because representatives did not appear at the meeting to explain their services. And voters reduced the amount requested by the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.
They supported appropriations for the Rumford Public Library, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, and Oxford County Association for Retarded Citizens. A request by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce was accidentally omitted from the warrant and will be dealt with at a special town meeting in late spring.
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