JAY — Residents elected a new selectperson Tuesday and overwhelmingly approved all articles in the $5.63 million municipal budget for 2015-16.

Pearl Cook lost her bid for re-election for a three-year term to former Selectperson Terry Bergeron by a 172-103 vote, Town Clerk Ronda Palmer said.

Board of Selectpersons Chairman Steve McCourt was re-elected to another three-year term with 229 votes. He was uncontested for the position.

Regional School Unit 73 Director Michael Morrell was also re-elected to another three-year term with 257 votes. 

No one had taken out papers for another three-year term on the school board. 

There were 10 write-in candidates with Elaine Fitzgerald receiving three votes, the most out of any candidate. Palmer said she will call Fitzgerald to see if she is interested in the position.

Of an estimated 3,000 registered voters, 304 cast ballots, Palmer said. 

The spending plan is $92,656.60 more than the current budget. Part of the increase is to set up a new $50,000 valuation reserve account. 

After factoring in anticipated revenues of $1.33 million, the net budget is $4.3 million. The figures do not factor in Franklin County taxes or the town’s share of the Regional School Unit 73 budget.

The proposal includes the elimination of a Police Department patrolman position and a position in the Public Works Department. It also reflects increases in electricity, water and hydrant rental costs.

Voters also authorized the Board of Selectpersons to pursue a property lease with the Androscoggin Land Trust for about 10 acres at French Falls Recreation Area. The property includes playing fields and was formerly owned by Verso Paper Corp. It abuts the Androscoggin River and the Whistle-Stop Trail that goes to West Farmington.

The cost would be $1 a year to lease the land. The town would be responsible for mowing and maintaining it.

Voters also approved a Community Development Block Grant application for a Workforce Development Grant for training for $100,000. The town would be the applicant with Polycor, a company based in Canada that is developing the North Jay White Quarry for the purpose of making granite curbing.

The company proposes to build a plant off the Old Jay Hill Road. The $4 million investment would create 20 direct jobs and 20 indirect jobs, and inject approximately $3 million per year into the local economy, according to the company’s information presented to the town.

There would be no cost to the town for the grant, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere previously said.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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