SABATTUS — At what could be the last traditional town meeting, voters Saturday will be asked to restore three positions and raise significant funds for roadwork.

Later this fall they’ll consider doing away with gathering on a Saturday and raising a hand to vote.

Town Manager Andrew Gilmore said if everything supported by selectmen in the 62 article-warrant passes, the tax rate would increase an estimated 74 cents to $14.74.

For the average home in Sabattus, that’s a property tax increase of roughly $96 a year.

It would make for a $2.2 million municipal operating budget, about a 9 percent increase over the current year.

Among the articles at town meeting on June 2:

* Whether to return a detective sergeant position to the Police Department budget and two positions back into Public Works.

In the last four years, both departments have lost three positions, Gilmore said. “(This) is trying to stabilize them.”

The Budget Committee recommends spending $414,052 on police, which includes that new position. The selectmen’s recommendation, $388,285, does not include extra personnel, but isn’t a sign selectmen oppose it, Gilmore said.

For Public Works, selectmen recommend $518,790, roughly $67,000 over last year, and that includes the two positions. The Budget Committee supported a lesser budget with only one new staffer.

* Spending either $8,000 more (selectmen’s recommendation) or $18,000 more (Budget Committee’s) on the Fire Department.

Gilmore said more funds would go to turnout gear and equipment. In other articles, voters will consider setting aside $30,000 toward a new firetruck and raising $3,000 for an emergency medical services unit just finishing a six-month trial period.

* Funding future roadwork.

One question asks for a $100,000 local match toward a $900,000 state and federal grant for a Pleasant Hill Road project that would improve drainage, pitch and sightlines.

 Selectmen and the Budget Committee support it. Both also support an additional $750,000 bond for work on roads like Ball Park, Marsh and Jordan Ridge, Gilmore said.

The parties split on whether to raise another $75,000 toward still more roadwork. Selectmen recommend against, the Budget Committee for.

 Yet another article is a stopgap: If the bond fails, do voters want to raise $200,000 now for roads instead?

The town has gone eight years without significant paving work, Gilmore said, meanwhile Greene, with about the same number of miles of roads and population, invests $300,000 a year.

“Most of the debate was not whether or not we should bond but should we do more,” he said.

* Creating new police, fire, public works, transfer station and municipal building capital and equipment reserve accounts.

“The town has historically raised money for different capital projects but not put them into accounts created by statute,” Gilmore said.

It gave Sabattus more latitude in spending the money. This way, selectmen would “not be authorized to spend a penny without voter approval,” he said.

* Accepting Turtle Drive as a new road. Part of Shy Beaver Estates, it’s been upgraded to meet town standards since the last time developers approached the town, Gilmore said.

Town meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Oak Hill Middle School gym. Gilmore said he’s hoping for strong attendance since this could be the last one.

In November, the Charter Commission will recommend a proposal to move toward a paper ballot instead.

Sabattus has about 3,700 registered voters. It needs 25 for a quorum at town meeting. In 2011, it almost didn’t have enough.

“I think last year jolted a lot of people,” Gilmore said.

It’s been the few deciding for the many for several years, he said. Under the proposal, selectmen would set the warrant, then hold a public hearing in advance of the vote.

“(The ultimate budget decision) still rests with the voters; therefore it would still be a town meeting town. It’s the word ‘meeting'” that might not be so apt, Gilmore said. “For those of us that tend to appreciate tradition and heritage, there’s a certain sadness to that.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com

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