KINGFIELD – More than 150 residents dug out of the previous day’s snowstorm to attend town meeting Saturday and authorize selectmen to establish an administrative assistant position.

The town will use the Maine Municipal Association to assist with writing a job description and conduct a candidate search for up to $6,500.

The meeting at the Kingfield Elementary School was moderated by Farmington lawyer Paul Mills. Selectmen were authorized to appropriate $27,500 to fund salary and benefits for an assistant position from July 1 to Dec. 31, with additional costs needed to carry the position through a full fiscal year to come from surplus. The new position will relieve the three selectmen of many of the daily administrative duties.

Sandra Jean Orbeton, who has served as town clerk, tax collector and treasurer since 1970, announced she is retiring from full-time duties and will remain a part-time treasurer. She received grateful applause from the audience.

Residents approved a total municipal budget of $662,115 – an increase of $34,115 over 2006 – while deciding a 36-article town warrant. Most items drew little discussion and the 9 a.m. meeting was adjourned at 11:42 a.m.

The total commitment appropriated at town meeting is to be offset by $300,000 from the fund balance to reduce the 2007 tax burden, with $10,000 in surplus also set aside to meet unanticipated expenses or an emergency. Residents authorized the town to exceed the property tax levy limit of $655,202. At the end of the day, the municipal budget indeed resulted in a tax commitment that is greater than the limit established by the state L.D. 1 formula, and exceeded that limit by $6,912.

Elected from the floor to a three-year term for selectman was incumbent Heather Moody, defeating three opponents. An initial tally gave Moody 68 votes; Joe Ray 62; Jack McKee 14; and Gus Misner three votes. As no candidate polled more than 50 percent, the latter two candidates withdrew, and a second vote resulted in Moody’s victory, polling 83 votes to 68 for Ray.

Voters re-elected Judith Dill to a three-year SAD 58 board position and Kim Jordan for a one-year term, and agreed local SAD 58 directors should be paid $20 for each meeting they attend, an increase of $10 from what was previously paid.

The annual Kingfield Water District meeting also was convened, with incumbent trustees Robert Barnes and Mark Robie re-elected.