TURNER — Selectmen on Monday night authorized an election for one selectman to serve until April 2016. This position is to replace Chairman Angelo Terreri, who resigned on March 3.

After Terreri resigned, the board appointed Selectman Kurt Youland as chairman, and he conducted business Monday night. Dennis Richardson was appointed vice chairman.

Nomination papers will be available March 18 to replace Terreri and will be due back by April 11. Absentee ballots will be available on April 18 and any registered voter in Turner may vote absentee. The election will be on May 20 in conjunction with the Regional School Unit 52 budget ratification vote.

Three people were nominated by Lawrence House for the Spirit of America Award.

The board voted to sign an agreement with Androscoggin Valley Council on Government for Planning Services.

Public Works Director John Moultrie reported that even after a severe winter, he still has $30,000 left in his winter roads budget. Moultrie said the federal government refused his request for ice hardship in December because that storm was not classified as an ice storm.

However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded a $44,000 mitigation grant to finish work on Fish Street.

Scott LaFlamme reported that the Planning Board approved permits for a Dollar Store on Route 117 across from the Post Office and a 3,000 sqare foot multi-unit retail space across from the Hannaford store on Route 4. This area was the former Village Farm Stand.

A long discussion arose over the town auditor choice, and it was agreed to put the auditor position out to bid. LaFlamme suggested the board might want to get this done before a new town manager is hired.

Selectman Ralph Caldwell said he was not pleased with the present auditor. Caldwell said the Maine Municipal Association should be able to give them an estimate of how much the audit should cost. The board voted to have Caldwell pursue this information.

LaFlamme said there were 15 applicants for the town manager job.

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