Town meeting will continue Tuesday when residents vote on municipal officers, Oxford Water District trustees and SAD 17 directors. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Oxford Public Safety Building.

OXFORD — Voters approved all warrant items in less than a half-hour Saturday at the annual town meeting.

At 22 minutes, it wasn’t quite as fast as last year’s 15-minute meeting, but it was speedy by town meeting standards. Some residents thought it was too quick. Gary Smith opposed a motion to group 20 budget articles into one vote.

“I think this is the one time that we get to be a democratic society, and I really think we need to look at each article for its own value,” Smith said.

Henry Jackson, who raised the motion to group the budget items, said residents would still have a chance to discuss each article, but voting for them together would save time.

Smith got some support but not enough to defeat the motion. Articles 4 through 23 were passed as written, but not before Smith pointed out that the amount recommended for General Assistance, $6,800, was only $300 more than the amount set for stray cats and dogs in the animal control budget.

“I really think we have to do something, because people are not getting fed,” Smith said.

Town Manager Michael Chammings said the General Assistance amount was set by the state. He said he agreed that animal control costs were out of control and pointed out that the cost of putting a dog up for the night is almost as much as putting a person in a motel under General Assistance.

Chammings said there are other means of support for people unable to make ends meet, such as the volunteer-run Helping Hands Food Pantry based in the Town Office and the Keep Oxford Warm fund.

Residents approved the $3.18 million budget, a 0.81 percent increase from last year. They also voted for a revision of Budget Committee bylaws.

Peter Laverdiere was named Volunteer of the Year. According to Board of Selectmen Chairman Floyd Thayer, Laverdiere has been active on the Thompson Lake Environmental Association and has recently become involved with the food pantry.

Laverdiere also serves on the Appeals Board, the Budget Committee and the Thompson Lake Dam Committee, Thayer said, and has volunteered in town elections for years.

“His dedication to the town of Oxford is inspiring,” Thayer said.

More than 40 residents attended the meeting. Ron Kugell was elected to moderate.

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