LIVERMORE – Residents voted 13-8 not to change the treasurer’s position from being elected to appointment Thursday during the town meeting.

Randy Berry made the amended motion to the article that would have made the change. Initially he moved to take no action on the article but meeting moderator Darryl Brown said he couldn’t accept a no-action motion. So Berry changed the wording.

At one time, Berry said, he would have probably supported such a motion for accountability purposes but believes the town has taken some steps backwards. He said he doesn’t think there is enough information in the town report.

He would like to see more information presented so townspeople know what’s going on, he said.

Berry asked, what does the treasurer make? What does the selectperson’s administrative assistant make?

The book doesn’t tell you, he said.

Those positions are held by Kurt Schaub. Treasurer is elected by voters, the other is appointed by selectpersons.

“I think it’s a conflict of good practice,” Berry said.

When he was fire chief, Berry said, he requested information from town officials and did not receive it.

Selectperson Brenda Merrill said that they have updated accounting systems and that information is more readily available.

Resident Alan Libby said he remembered a few years back when the same question was asked about the town clerk and people were up in arms and it wasn’t approved.

Someone asked about the checks and balances of the system, and if there was a difference between the accountability of elected and appointed positions. He referred to a theft of money from a neighboring town.

Town Clerk Renda Libby said there are checks and balances in the town’s accounting system.

Libby said that she feels bad that things going on around the state are making people in charge of public money look bad but assured residents that internal controls are in place.

Selectperson John Wakefield confirmed that there were internal controls in place to prevent that.

The town has a new auditing firm that specializes in town finances, a new accounting system and selectpersons oversee what’s going on.

All the other articles passed, though some people wanted to know if there was money in the budget to make renovations to fix Brettuns Community Building, where the meeting was held Thursday, so that people could vote in state elections there.

Several handicap accessibility changes need to be made to widen restrooms, ramps and doorways among other renovations, Schaub said.

They’re hoping after the comprehensive plan is finalized that they would be eligible for grant money to fix the building, he said.

Voting was held Tuesday at the fire station and some residents voiced concern about a major fire and the possibility that firefighters wouldn’t be able to get needed equipment.

Berry tried to amend a couple of articles including moving that $90,000 be raised for administration instead of $111,807 and for the remainder to be set aside to fix the Community Building.

The motion died for lack of second and the original article passed.

Residents also voted to amend five ordinances to put in wording to clarify the appeals process.

The spending plan approved was for $1.1 million up from $1.06 million this year, which is below the state taxation guidelines.