WEST PARIS — In addition to passing a $1.18 million municipal budget — down by nearly $2,000 from last year’s spending plan — at town meeting Saturday, voters chose a new selectman.
Dale Piirainen was elected by a vote of 42-39 to a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen, defeating incumbent Dennis Henderson.
Piirainen, who has previously served as chairman of the Budget Committee, told residents that his family had lived in West Paris for more than 100 years, and he had been retired from the military for 20 years.
“I served on the (School Administrative District 17) board of directors for 11 years,” Piirainen said.
He said that while he liked Henderson and appreciated the work he had done for the town, “there comes a time when it’s helpful to have a new set of eyes to have a fresh look at things.”
West Paris town officials count votes for the Board of Selectman race during Saturday morning’s town meeting at the Agnes Gray Elementary School gymnasium. Dale Piirainen defeated incumbent Dennis Henderson, 42-39.
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