CARTHAGE – For the first time in more years than anyone can remember, townspeople will act on a series of town meeting articles without filling up on a spaghetti supper first.
The usual meal, served by Webb River Grange members just before the annual town meeting, won’t happen this year because the Grange no longer exists. It voted itself out of business last summer.
And people won’t meet in the Grange hall either. They will, instead, gather in one of the classrooms at the town office building.
One of the items up for discussion at the meeting on Monday, March 7, is whether residents are interested in pursuing ownership of the century-old Grange building just down Route 142 from the town office.
“The town has put money into it. Some people think it’s an important part of the town while others believe it is a financial burden,” Selectman Steve Brown said.
If people say yes, the board will try to figure out how to acquire the building. If not, he said the matter will likely be dropped. However, the town will continue to control the water and sewer serving the hall. The hall sits on a narrow 75-by-100-foot lot. If residents decide to pursue ownership, Brown said a special town meeting would have to be held to accept it.
Residents will also choose a new selectman. Nine-year veteran Bill Houghton has decided not seek another term, said Brown. Other officeholders will seek additional terms. They are: Dot Mason, treasurer, and Linda Berry, town clerk and tax collector, each for one-year terms; and Berry and Linda Jamison, who will seek additional three-year terms on the SAD 21 Board of Directors.
All nominations are made from the floor.
If all money articles are passed, Brown said residents will raise $143,714 to run the town, up 3 percent from last year’s budget of $139,000. The town’s tax rate is $19.70 per $1,000 valuation, which includes funds for county and school taxes.
Residents will have 39 articles to act on.
Among the items going up this year is the cost of garbage disposal, from $26,500 last year to $31,000 this year. Brown said the cost hike is due to an increase in the number of tons of garbage disposed of.
Also, the town seeks to raise $6,000, plus another $2,000 from surplus, to go toward the cost of purchasing a new trash compactor truck.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
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