NEW VINEYARD – Nearly 80 voters turned out Saturday for the annual town meeting here, a New England tradition moderator Roger Lambert described as “one of the last vestiges of true democracy in action in our world today.”

All but two of the 44 proposed articles on the warrant passed muster with voters, many of whom cheered as they approved payment to Franklin Savings Bank for the final payment of $1,679.70 for the town’s newest fire truck, bought in 2000.

Voters discussed at length three proposed options for the reconstruction of Barker Road, as outlined by study committee chairman Bruce Turcotte.

“Clearly,” he said, “Barker Road needs help. It’s heavily traveled by both trucks and most residents, school buses and summer residents.”

He went on to explain that approximately 1.9 miles of the road needs serious repair. The town has $144,000 in its road account to be used toward the project.

Voters chose the second option, which will appropriate money and authorize selectmen to borrow up to $233,000 from the Maine Bond Authority for a 10-year term. An additional $50,000 will be taken from town surplus, giving the project a total expense of $416,688.

The chosen option, recommended by the study committee, will accomplish about half the true need along the road. The plan calls for the reconstruction of one mile of the road north of Robert Searles’ property, doing all necessary ditch and culvert work along the way. Also, the road will be leveled and hot-topped from the Searles’ property south to Hardy Cemetery, approximately 6,200 feet.

Another heavily discussed article asked the town to adopt a revised subdivision ordinance, which it did. Voters also approved taking $28,036.24 from surplus to address several overdrafts, for plowing and sanding the town’s nearly 30 miles of paved and dirt roads.

Voters also agreed to support the town library with $3,500; spend $500 for civil defense; pay $6,621 to North Star Ambulance service and $1,199 for annual dues to Maine Municipal Association.

State Rep. Thomas Saviello, U-Wilton, gave two official recognitions to residents. One went to Mt. Blue High School senior Sam Webber for his second state title on the wrestling team, the second to the grassroots Porter Lake Association, dedicated to preserving the lake, its environs, habitat and wildlife.

General elections from the floor were uncontested. Selectman Fay Adams won another three-year term; Earl Luce Jr. elected summer road commissioner, Ann Sullivan and Adrian Rollo were elected to the Planning Board, Brent Laughlin as an associate Planning Board member and Scott Webber was elected as SAD 9 director, to fulfill the remaining one-year term of Ted Ellis.