NORWAY – Newly-elected Selectman Mike Twitchell said he did what he felt was right in voting against major department budgets at last week’s annual town meeting.

“I’m for tightening up and trying to save money. Maybe that’s not realistic,” he said when asked why he voted as he did June 14.

“When I vote against something I think, ‘Why can’t we save the money,’” he said.

Twitchell, a political newcomer, describes himself as frugal.

When he voted against a $500,000 Highway Department budget and a $1 million bond issue for road improvements, he said he was thinking about ways to save the town money.

“When I was going door to door, people were hammering me about spending money,” said the Greenwood Road resident and second generation drywaller.

During his campaign he met a 76-year-old woman who lives on $600 to $700 a month in Social Security benefits and had to choose between buying her medicine and paying her bills. She paid her bills, Twitchell said.

The stories were the similar throughout town as he talked to people while campaigning for the seat he would eventually win by a vote of 478-447 on June 8. He defeated former Selectman Bruce Cook, a well-known and respected resident who is active in many of the town’s organizations and boards.

He counts Cook as his friend and hopes his fellow board members will accept him as well.

“They lost a friend but I hope they know they gained a friend too,” Twitchell said of his fellow board members.

He sat almost directly across from Cook throughout town meeting and said he wished the town had let Cook serve as selectman through the town meeting, which was held less than a week after the annual town elections.

He believes Cook would have brought experience and expertise to that important meeting on issues that he was simply not up to speed with yet.

Twitchell said he believes town officials do a good job, but he is frustrated by the rising cost of service and the needs of many people.

“Some people don’t have a place to live and others are worrying about sidewalks,” he said. He voted against money to repair roads and sidewalks even though he lives on a section of one of the worst roads in town.

Twitchell said he is all for funding essential services such as police and fire departments, but if there are any extras, such as unnecessary overtime or paying for all or the majority of employees insurance, they should be looked at and cut if possible.

“You have to have services. I don’t have to think too long if the police and fire departments need something,” he said.

The bottom line is simple, he said. “I’m trying to look out for the taxpayers. A lot of people are just maxed out.”

Twitchell said he is open to suggestions from anyone and would like to see more interaction between residents and the board – perhaps through a community supper in the future.

ldixon@ sunjournal.com