Perhaps helped along by homemade oatmeal cookies offered at Bear River Grange, 21 Newry voters moved briskly through 33 articles in just 47 minutes during the annual town meeting May 12 at Bear River Grange.

David Duguay was elected as moderator.

Most articles passed easily with little discussion, though resident and cookie baker Cindi Wight questioned the lower amounts recommended for the Bethel Library and the Bethel Area Food Pantry.

Select Board members Mandy Berry and David Bartlett said there is no formal recordkeeping to confirm use, but they believed no Newry residents were using the food pantry. Resident Bruce Pierce argued that “supporting the food pantry is supporting the wider community.”

Voters approved Wight’s amended article, which doubled the food pantry donation to $1,600 and added $1,000 to the recommended $5,000 for the Bethel Library. In total, the town allocated $30,036 to organizations under the category of community assistance.

Voters unanimously approved an article expected to save the town $136,000 in tipping fees. Town Administrator Loretta Powers explained that while contractors and homeowners pay rental and haul fees, the town has always paid the fee for dumping or “tipping” of dumpsters. There are 74 dumpsters in use in Newry.

Residents approved setting aside $300,000 for hazard mitigation work along Sunday River Road in hopes of securing a federal or other matching grant, which requires local funding participation.

Consultant Jeff Stern said three sites have been identified for possible mitigation work: the Letter S pool, the turnout site and an area near Outward Bound Road. He said project plans are available for residents to review at the Town Office.

Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey said mitigation work at the Letter S site alone is estimated to cost $220,000.

Voters also approved updates to three building ordinances. In her opening letter to taxpayers in the town report, Corey said 46 building permits were issued in 2025, including 16 for single-family homes. Permit fees totaled $22,325.

The 2026 town budget is $2.6 million, with Oxford County’s $1.4 million assessment and an undetermined School Administrative District 44 budget still to be added, Powers confirmed.