ALBION — Voters moved quickly on 61 articles Saturday during Town Meeting, approving all questions in less than three hours.
Although town meetings are perhaps known best as opportunities to shave dollars from annual budgets, Albion voters amended two articles to increase spending for the town library and make a donation to a local land trust.
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About 50 voters arrived at 10 a.m. Saturday at Albion Elementary School. Town Clerk Amanda Dow described the warrant as straightforward with no major issues. Voters approved about $92,500 in additional spending compared to the previous year’s budget, but most of that money will be drawn from surplus, Selectperson Beverly Bradstreet said. The balance — about $8,000 — will be drawn from a tax increase.
The total warrant from 2011 was about $2.3 million.
Selectperson Michael Getchell said Albion town meetings are typically brisk, but this year’s meeting was especially noteworthy.
“Today was very good,” he said.
Nonetheless, voters paused to debate several issues. Should the town reimburse the road committee for mileage? Should the town add $15,000 to a capital expense fund for the fire department? Should the town spend $13,000 to support youth sports?
Yes, yes and yes.
When Moderator Philip Roy asked voters whether they would approve $3,300 for the public library, resident Bill Najpauer said it wasn’t enough. Instead, he proposed an amendment to fund the library at $6,000 to help expand the collection.
Voters overwhelmingly agreed.
Later, Roy asked whether voters would approve a recommendation by the Budget Committee to provide no money to Sebasticook Regional Land Trust. Instead, voters amended the article to donate $250 to the nonprofit group, which maintains 2,000 acres in the Sebasticook watershed.
A day earlier, on Friday, 49 voters elected a road commissioner, a selectperson and a member of the school board in unopposed contests.
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
ALBION
Registered voters: more than 1,400
Attendance: about 50
2011 tax rate: $13.50 per $1,000 of valuation
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