STRONG – Voters have 61 articles to consider during the annual town meeting that begins Friday with election of town and school officials, and continues Saturday to take up town government operations.
The elections will be 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 3, in the Forster Memorial Building.
Two three-year selectmen’s terms are open; only one candidate, incumbent Selectman Clyde Barker, is running for re-election. The other seat has no candidates listed.
There also is no candidate for the three-year SAD 58 term now held by Stacy Dunham.
A special election is also being held on Tuesday, March 28, to fill two more vacant selectmen’s seats.
Voters will consider 59 articles pertaining to town operations when they meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 4, in the Forster Memorial Building.
Strong Treasurer Sandy Howard said Monday she doesn’t see any controversial articles to face voters this year.
It is difficult to determine now what the proposed 2006 spending plan is, she said, because decisions made at the meeting will decide that.
From what she could see, Howard said, if everything passes as requested by selectmen, Budget Committee, department requests and outside requests, the town would have to raise $494,707. But that figure also includes money being used from trust funds, she said, if townspeople approve it.
Howard said selectmen made decisions on their recommendations prior to new information that came in. The Budget Committee did get to see that information, and some of their recommendations reflect that.
Several of the accounts have increased, she said, due to higher costs of fuel.
A group of people from town is also asking that a recreation committee be formed so that it can study the feasibility of building an ice skating rink.
Voters will also be asked to consider authorizing selectmen to borrow an unspecified amount of money to refurbish the 1988 International firetruck, Engine 3.
Townspeople will also consider appropriating $3,323.75 from surplus to cover overdrafts of $1,629.98 for equipment operating and $1,693.77 for winter roads.
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