NEW SHARON – The “nays” at town meeting Saturday defeated articles that would make town clerk, treasurer and tax collector appointed rather than elected positions.

The knowledge and training needed for those town positions means anyone who isn’t well-versed, well-trained and up-to-date on state statutes could not perform the jobs, said Ron Smith, in support of the motion.

Smith wanted to eliminate the ambiguities of the law, he said, as he cited cases where towns paid high legal costs to try to review their own books because treasurers can work from home by state statute.

Voters also declined to have the Board of Selectmen investigate the cost of a town-based road crew and equipment but favored raising $40,000 and borrowing $75,000 to replace the Weeks Mills bridge.

Voters appeared happy with present road work that the town contracts out and questioned why the article was on the warrant. The Road Committee wanted to see whether people were interested in just letting selectmen investigate costs and compare.

“For some little jobs, we’re paying more than we should,” said Selectman Larry Donald.

By a written vote of 21 yes and 43 no, the article was defeated.

In elections, Scott Pratt won town treasurer, defeating Mercy Hanson and Melissa Letarte by a vote of 115-27-2, respectively.

Maynard Webster beat Larry Donald 75-64 for a three-year term as first selectman. Russell Gardner was elected to a two-year term as second selectman by a vote of 80-57 over Jim Fleming.

Donald preferred to keep the third selectman position and voters agreed, casting 68 votes for Donald and one vote for John Pond.

Donald Lowe was re-elected road commissioner over Kevin Brann by a vote of 75-71. Rosemary Eller was re-elected town clerk and tax collector and Forrest Bonney retained his seat on the Water District Board of Trustees.