WEST PARIS — On Saturday, March 6, at 10 a.m. the West Paris annual town meeting will take place at the town fire station at 25 Kingsbury Street.
Incumbent Selectman Mike Grass will not be seeking re-election for a three-year term and as of now there is no one else running for the soon to be vacant seat. Town Manager Wade Rainey said someone could be nominated the day of the meeting, but currently has only heard from one person who’s expressed interest in the job. If no one is chosen to fill Grass’s spot on the board a special town meeting will have to be held at a later date when someone decides to run, according to Rainey.
Grass has served as selectman since 2016.
The town will also need to elect a Water District Director and MSAD 17 School Board Director, both for three-year terms. Mark Herrick is up for re-election for the Water District and Natalie Andrews for the MSAD 17 board. As of Feb. 16, Rainey was unsure if either was going to seek re-election. He said he planned to speak with both individuals this week to find out if they plan to run again.
To stay in line with COVID-19 protocols, only 50 people will be allowed inside the fire station for the meeting. Anyone who shows up afterwards will be asked to attend the meeting from their vehicles. The town is working on setting up a radio transmitter so residents can tune into the meeting. Rainey said people will be given small flags to hold up from their vehicles if they have any questions for town officials.
If all 43 articles on the warrant pass, the budget will come in at $1,326,568 slightly up last years total of $1,319,845.
Notable articles
Article 12 will ask residents if they want to allow selectmen to negotiate an agreement with Nine Dragon (ND) Paper Co. in Rumford so they can lease a portion of the town gravel pit on Route 26. ND paper needs additional space for log storage, according to the warrant.
Article 20 asks to raise and appropriate $100,000 for the fire department, though the selectmen and budget committee have recommended an amount of $98,082, instead.
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