New Sharon voters approve smaller budget, elect incumbents

NEW SHARON — For the second year in a row, voters approved a budget less than the previous year’s and they elected four incumbents for another three years.

The $859,885 budget is $40,093 less than last year’s $909,978.

Most of the remaining 44 articles were passed as presented.

An article seeking $3,300 for the New Sharon Historical Committee and Museum was amended to $1,800.

Town Clerk Pamela Griswold said voters approved a 3 percent discount for taxes paid within a month of receipt of the bill, but they amended the article to stipulate funds would be taken from surplus rather than raised through taxes.

She said voters amended the rate of interest on delinquent taxes from 0.67 percent per month to 8 percent annually. By state law the interest can not exceed 8 percent annually, and the per month amount would have equaled 8.04 percent.

Voters gave selectmen authority to make final determinations on the closing or opening of roads for winter maintenance. They also voted to allow the board to explore the cost of discontinuing Bassett Road.

Griswold said the road is off Industry Road between Jersey Avenue and Prince Road.

“The board proactively brought it to the voters to start the discussion. If they decide to close the road, they would bring it to the voters,” Griswold said.

During Friday’s elections, Travis Pond received 137 votes for selectman. There were 15 write-ins.

Jeff Harris, who was appointed to the Regional School Unit 9 board of directors received 153 votes. Erin Norton received 145 votes for treasurer, while John Pond received 151 votes for road commissioner.

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