LIVERMORE FALLS – Townspeople appear to have liked voting by secret ballot to approve a $2.5 million budget for fiscal 2008. They voted 187-95 in an opinion poll to hold the town meeting next year again by referendum.

Voters also rejected an article Tuesday that would have changed the town clerk/treasurer’s position from being elected to appointed by selectmen by a vote of 145-117. Voters passed all but that article and another one in the town’s first town meeting held by secret ballot.

Voters also approved a $2.5 million budget.

They also defeated an article to increase the tax levy.

Townspeople elected Ernie Souther, who will be sworn in as the post master of the Buckfield Post Office Friday, to fill a selectman’s seat vacated by Bill Demaray.

Souther received 194 votes to SAD 36 Director Denise Rodzen’s 112 votes for the three-year term on the Board of Selectman.

Louise Chabot, running unopposed for a two-year selectman’s seat held by Michael Collins, received 285 votes.

Elected as SAD 36 directors were Rhonda Drake, 138 votes; Elaine LaPointe, 278 votes; and Ann Souther, 234 votes.

Receiving write-in votes for a vacant position was former SAD 36 Director Betsy DuBois with nine votes, and her husband, former Livermore Falls Selectman Tom DuBois, received two votes.