NEW VINEYARD — Voters at Saturday’s town meeting elected municipal officers and approved a budget for 2016.

Earl Luce Jr. nominated Jeff Allen to run against incumbent Frank Forster II for a three-year term. Allen received 44 votes, defeating Forster, who received 21 votes. Incumbent Road Commissioner Robert Sillanpaa was re-elected without opposition. Lindsay Jackson, Al Thurlow and Linda Thurlow were elected to serve on the Planning Board. The board needs another full-time member and an alternate, but they can be appointed by selectmen to serve until next year’s election.

Over the next four hours, voters asked for more information about several of the 44 articles’ incorrect or unexplained amounts. Board Chairwoman Fay Adams apologized to voters for the inconsistencies.

“I want to thank you all who took time to read the town report and call and talk about the errors and omissions,” she said.

The town’s bookkeeper contracted pneumonia and hadn’t been able to work for the past week, Adams said.

“Our first effort at computerizing our town report didn’t go well,” she said.

Voters approved spending $6,200 to buy the software and pay for licensing for motor vehicle registrations. The software provides a more accurate and efficient process, according to Town Clerk Michelle Beedy. The state system will require much more paperwork if the Town Office continues to use its non-computerized system, she said.

Fire Chief Doug Churchill did not attend the meeting to answer questions, and voters amended his $23,660 reserve account request to $21,500.

Selectmen were granted the authority to procure a temporary loan, if needed, in anticipation of tax payments. Since so many residents haven’t paid their taxes, Adams said, the municipality must be sure it has money to pay the bills. Voters approved taking $25,000 from surplus to reduce this year’s tax commitment. The usual surplus appropriation is $50,000, but the current budget leaves little left over, Adams said.

“Our accountant says we’re cutting things pretty close,” she said.

Voters approved appropriating $15,000 to clear a town-owned lot next to the municipal buildings. Last year, selectmen tried unsuccessfully to find someone to complete the job for $10,000 or less, Adams said, but all bids exceeded that amount. The building on the lot has asbestos shingles, so a successful bidder will be responsible for proper steps for their removal and disposal.

In other action, selectmen asked for $188,000 to pay Doug Nile for plowing, sanding and salting winter roads. Nile has been the only contractor willing to bid on plowing winter roads, according to selectmen, and last year, the town approved $171,000 to pay him. Other contractors, including Gilbert Taylor, Tellis Fenwick and Brent Davenport, have told selectman they couldn’t compete with what Nile charged the town.

“Contractors won’t bid on this for less than $200,000,” Selectman Niilo Sillanpaa told voters.

Nile told voters he increased his bid this year because he needs to replace some equipment. Several voters disagreed with the idea of absorbing Nile’s equipment costs.

“The cost to plow roads has increased 101 percent since Selectman Frank Forster convinced voters to sell the existing equipment seven or eight years ago,” Earl Luce Jr. said.

Voters amended that request and approved paying $171,000 again this fiscal year.

Voters approved $9,000 for maintenance and repairs to the town’s Smith Hall. Adams asked voters to think about alternatives to spending so much on the building. Future plans could include finding another location to hold meetings or even building a new structure. The second floor is not handicapped-accessible, and the building’s basement has been filled with water and mold.