HANOVER — Residents honored retired teacher Lynne Ramsey as Volunteer of the Year at the annual town meeting Tuesday night.

They also re-elected Selectman Richard Stratton to a full, three-year term; and Clem Worcester as town clerk, tax collector and treasurer for one year.

Ramsey was honored for her efforts in leading a community garden for area children as part of the Gardner Roberts Memorial Library summer program. She was presented with a plaque. Her name will also be etched into a plaque listing all Volunteer of the Year honorees. It hangs in the town office.

Stratton filled out the selectmen’s term begun by Bruce Powell.

The 20 or so residents at the meeting approved all 38 articles, including a total municipal, county and school budget of $399,541. That’s an increase of 9.6 percent from last year. Most of the increase was due to higher school and county taxes.

Voters authorized the Board of Selectmen to devise a plan for possibly charging interest to late property taxpayers and providing a discount for those who pay their taxes early.

The proposal will go before voters at the next annual town meeting.

The town has traditionally not assessed an interest fee for late payment, and most property owners pay their taxes by the end of June.

Worcester said a special selectmen’s meeting will likely be set within the next couple of weeks to set the tax rate. The current rate is $6.82 per $1,000 valuation.

Worcester said he expects it to increase about 50 cents.

The next regular selectmen’s meeting is set for Nov. 16.

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