WEST PARIS — Residents approved a $1.1 million budget and chose a new selectman at town meeting Saturday morning. 

The budget sees current programming fully funded and a $6,000 reduction, mostly in General Assistance. 

Residents unanimously chose Peter Collette, 52, a heating systems technician, to his first three-year term as selectman. Collette replaces Wade Rainey, who has served the town for 24 years. 

The town presented Rainey with a commemorative plaque for the occasion. Rainey, in a short speech, thanked fellow town officials for making the job easy. 

Moderator Vern Maxfield said Rainey’s knowledge of municipal government was thorough.

“Having people like this makes our lives better,” Maxfield said. “We’ll make sure to get your phone number,” he joked. 

Included in the budget is $282,835 for town administration, $335,000 for the Highway Department, $88,000 for the Fire Department, $85,000 for the transfer station and $30,000 for the library. The Fire Department budget increased by $3,700, the transfer station’s decreased by roughly $6,300 and the other departments remained the same. 

Only one of the 38 articles — funding for ambulance services — had votes against it. Two of the estimated 50 residents opposed it.

For the majority of articles there was no debate, though several residents asked for clarification on how some of the funding is spent, such as $3,000 for maintenance of cemeteries. 

Residents approved $3,000 for the after-school West Paris Explorers. Selectmen and the Budget Committee had recommended $2,500. The extra funding is intended to meet demand for the program. 

Natalie Andrews was elected to the board of directors for SAD 17, and Philip Edmunds was elected to another term as a trustee of the Water District. Both votes were unanimous. 

ccrosby@sunmediagroup.net

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