Money for roads, elections of officials, an increase in lot size and several citizen-initiated articles are expected to draw discussion at meetings in four towns Saturday and Monday.

Industry

Three selectmen positions are up for election in Industry, with balloting between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at the town office. The annual town meeting will follow at 2 p.m.

Incumbent Selectman Earl “Lee” Ireland is unopposed for a one-year term on the board while the other two selectmen positions are contested.

Running for the two-year, second selectman’s position are incumbent Robert Geisser and Winston Nickerson III.

Both Lewis Glidden Jr. and Michael Senecal are seeking the third selectman’s term, which is a three-year seat.

Just months after voters decided to have selectmen appoint the town clerk, treasurer, tax collector and road commissioner, a citizen-initiated article requests that method be reversed and all town officials be elected by Australian ballot in 2008.

One of the articles expected to bring discussion deals with summer roads.

“I think the summer roads will be quite an issue,” Town Clerk Angel Davis said. “They’re requesting $100,000. The last two years they appropriated $40,000 for road improvements. If they pass the road article at $100,000, they will have to increase the tax levy.”

Other citizen-initiated articles are to see if the town will vote to:

• refund 1.5 percent of the total tax to early taxpayers not to exceed 30 days from billing date;

• publish salaries, wages, and perks of town employees in the town report; and

• direct selectmen to change the annual town report to a simpler format.

New Vineyard

Voters in New Vineyard are scheduled to elect a selectman for a term of three years, a road commissioner to serve from April 1 to Oct. 31, and three Planning Board members with nominations made at the meeting.

The annual town meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, at Smith Memorial Hall.

The selectman’s position is held by Sandra Howard, who completed her term of her late husband, Jerry, and is not seeking re-election, Town Clerk Arlene Davis said.

Others holding positions up for election are Planning Board members Scott Webber, Jean Ferrari and Richard Hargreaves, and summer Road Commissioner Earl Luce Jr.

If all articles pass, the amount raised will be $149,841, an increase of about $12,000 from last year, Davis said.

One of the biggest items on the warrant is $85,000 requested for snow removal and sanding with $50,000 of that coming from taxes and $35,000 from surplus.

Road Commissioner Luce is also requesting more money for summer roads than previous years to do extra road work on Herrick Mountain Road, Davis said.

He usually accepts Maine Department of Transportation funds and anything unspent from the town roads account, Davis said. But this year, he is asking for $15,000 to be raised from taxes along with $31,284 in DOT money.

Another article on the warrant asks that voters appropriate $25,000 from revenue sharing to cover a deficit in the collection of taxes for 2006 due to an error in calculation of the Homestead Exemption.

Davis said it’s hard to tell what will draw discussion.

“It’s one of those things you think isn’t going to be anything but turns into something that could take over 20 to 30 minutes to discuss,” she said.

Chesterville

Selectmen are proposing a $380,937 budget for 2007, $28,662 more than last year, Town Clerk Pat Gordon said. Contributing to the increase are higher costs for roads, salt and sand.

Residents will vote on town government matters at 7 p.m. Monday, March 12, at the town hall.

Earlier that day, voters may cast ballots from 1 to 6 p.m. at the town hall for a selectman and SAD 9 director.

Seeking re-election to three-year terms are incumbent Selectman David Archer and SAD 9 Director Charisse Keach, Gordon said.

The town clerk said she didn’t see anything major on the warrant but there is a building ordinance amendment to be considered.

The proposal is to increase the minimum lot size from 20,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet. The increased lot size would only affect new lots, with existing lots grandfathered at the 20,000-square-foot minimum lot size.

Temple

After 15 years as a selectman, George Andrews is not seeking re-election.

“I’m getting old and tired,” Andrews, 69, said. “I’ve been at it long enough. It’s time for somebody else to learn the job.”

Andrews also resigned as fire chief this year after 39 years in that job, but remains active on the Fire Department.

Voters will consider approving a $249,787 municipal budget, which is $675 more than last year.

“Everything is the same as last year,” he said, except for a little increase.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, March 12, at the town office.

Nominations will be taken at the meeting to fill Andrews’ three-year term.

Other positions up for a election are one-year for town clerk, currently held by Diane Dunham; and treasurer and tax collector, currently held by Marie Andrews, George’s wife.