SUMNER — Sumner residents approved all 39 articles at the Saturday, Aug. 6 annual town meeting while making sure they had a voice in town business.

From start to finish a large group from the town made sure they asked questions about such items as interest on taxes, budget numbers and participants in town government.

Scott Cole, a longtime Bethel resident, Oxford County administrator and participant in town politics, was elected as moderator to begin the meeting.

Active participation began with article two as the article asked to see if the town would authorize the selectmen to set a tax due date, with interest of 7 percent yearly to be charged on unpaid taxes beginning on Jan. 29, 2017.

After the initial motion and second to approve, multiple residents asked if the rate could be lowered as there are quite a few of town residents in financial hardship. They said a lower rate on late taxes may help them get caught up.

It was explained by Town Clerk Susan Runes that the maximum amount could be 7 percent but the town could vote on lowering it.

One resident motioned for an amendment of 3 percent until Runes explained that the minimum had to be 4 percent and at that rate, there would be no interest paid back to residents on abated taxes that were already paid. This was due to a statue not allowing the difference to be less than 4 percent between late penalties and interest on abated taxes.

When that motion failed, it was motioned to be amended to 4 percent. which would result in the zero interest returned on paid, abated taxes. This motion also failed and the original motion of 7 percent for article two approved by the majority.

As the articles went through one by one each article drew questions from residents on what money was spent for and how the town could save money in the budget.

Even with the approval of all the articles on the warrant, several of them were approved with amended adjustments to budget numbers.

In other news, the town:

• elected Edwin Hinshaw as Selectperson/Assessor/Overseer of the Poor for a three year term;
• elected Andrew Wickson as Road Commissioner for a one-year term, and
• is still looking for a RSU 10 school board member, as no resident was willing to run.