CARTHAGE – Voting was done twice to elect a new selectman at Monday night’s annual town meeting.
Scott Berry, 41, a self-employed logger, was elected to replace former Selectman Brenda Flagg who chose not to seek a second term.
Four people ran for the three-year seat, resulting in a tie during the first vote. Scott Berry and Mike Melcher each received 10 votes, while newly elected moderator, Larry Blodgett, got 9, and Ray Grundy received 3. During the second vote, Scott Berry received 15, to Melcher’s 11, Blodgett’s 8, and Grundy’s 1.
All other seats were filled by incumbents. Linda Berry will continue as town clerk, tax collector and SAD 21 representative, and Dot Mason as treasurer.
Nearly 50 people turned out for the 90-minute meeting, the first in the former Webb River Grange Hall since the town bought it from the State Grange last year. The grange had voted to disband more than a year ago.
One of the stipulations from the State Grange when the town bought the century-old building was to remove the word “grange” from the hall’s name.
Residents voted Monday to authorize selectmen to choose a name.
First Selectman Steve Brown said the board is looking for suggestions and won’t make a decision until many of the residents have had a chance for input. One suggestion made Monday night was to call it the Webb River Community Hall. Others have been the Webb River Hall and the Berry Mills Hall in honor of the section of town where it is located.
Brown said a new name should be determined within the next few months.
In a related matter, residents voted to take $4,000 from surplus to paint the exterior of the hall and to repair some of the windows. An unnamed resident has agreed to pay the additional $2,000 that is estimated will be needed to complete the job.
Residents passed all 42 articles, including all calling for funding. Almost $147,000 was raised, down about 8 percent from the 2005 figure of $158,714.
Among the changes in this year’s budget was a $250 raise each for the town clerk, treasurer and tax collector and a $2,000 increase in the Fire Department budget to cover the costs for training volunteers.
Residents added $1,000 each to the capital accounts for a sand and salt shed, and for transfer station equipment. They also raised $1,000 each for youth recreation, the River Valley Growth Council and the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.
Taxes will be due Sept. 1 or 30 days after the tax commitment, whichever is later. Interest of 8 percent will be charged on all unpaid taxes after the due date.
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