WALES — Residents approved a $1.4 million municipal budget at the annual Town Meeting on Saturday.

The budget was approved as recommended by the Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee with no amendments, according to Town Treasurer Sharon Siegel. It will be a 7.9% increase from the current $1.3 million spending plan.

The largest increase in the municipal budget was for the town’s fire department. This year, the department will receive $115,986, a 70% increase from last year’s $67,974. Siegel said much of the extra funding will go toward replacing outdated equipment.

“We’ve held the budget down for so many years that eventually it comes back at you,” she said.

The county tax is set to increase by 14.6%, Siegel said.

While the Regional School Unit 4 budget was soundly rejected Tuesday by all three towns — including Sabattus and Litchfield — Siegel estimates that the combined tax rate will rise by about $2 in Wales this year, or roughly $400 on a property valued at $200,000. The tax rate is currently $17.45 per $1,000 of assessed value, she said.

The exact tax rate increase will not be known until the school budget is approved.

Town officials additionally surprised longtime selectman and volunteer firefighter Paul Burgess at the start of the meeting by announcing that the municipal center will be named in his honor. It will now be known as the Town of Wales Paul S. Burgess Municipal Center.

Burgess joined Wales’ fire department in 1975 and the Board of Selectmen in 1977, Siegel said. At 81-years-old, Burgess is approaching 50 years of service in both roles.

“We’ve been working on this for a year, and keeping it from him was not easy,” she said.

Local Elections

At the annual Town Meeting, Randall Greenwood was reelected to the Board of Selectmen, earning 64 votes to Tony Galipeau’s 16. Incumbent Scott Fyfe also won reelection to the RSU 4 board of directors against Hannah Dieterich, 52 to 39.

William Austin was elected to one of three town assessor positions. The role is usually held by selectmen as stipulated by the town charter, Siegel said, however Greenwood is unable to be an assessor as he was elected to be a state representative in 2022.

Incumbents Christopher Siegel and Lori Blier won 3-year terms on the Planning Board in uncontested races. One two-year position as an alternate member remains vacant.

On the Budget Committee, Jess Smith and Kasey Austin each were reelected to 3-year terms. Joe Petrocy was elected to a 1-year term on the committee. Diane Mason challenged all three people for a seat on the Budget Committee, but lost each election.

This year’s Spirit of America award was given to Tim Leighton, a lifelong resident of Wales.

“He spent countless hours dedicating his time as a volunteer coach for any sport (his twin sons) played,” according to the annual town report. “Even after they were grown, Tim continues to volunteer his time coordinating soccer opportunities for high school kids, many times at his own expense.”

The annual Town Meeting had the highest attendance in many years, Siegel said. One hundred and three registered voters were in attendance at the start of the meeting. After the election for the RSU 4 board of directors, the number dropped down to about 50-60, she said.

Residents also approved $300,000 for the bridge reconstruction reserve account to replace the “turtle bridge” on East Road. The site has an old culvert installed in 1929 which needs to be replaced. It is the same location turtles often lay their eggs, Siegel said.

The town won a $150,000 grant from the state to help fund the replacement, which will likely begin in late summer or early fall.

Residents additionally agreed to let the town sell the former sand pit property on Ridge Road. Siegel said the pit has been defunct for at least a couple of decades.

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