Otisfield voters approve $1.4M budget, town garage construction

Photo: Kayla Collins

HONORED — State Rep. Jim Hamper presents a certificate to Tony and Sandy Jordan at town meeting Saturday for 50 years of service to the Otisfield Fire Department.

Photo: Kayla Collins

TOWN MEETING — About 90 voters attended the Otisfield town meeting in the Community Hall on Saturday.

OTISFIELD —  Ninety voters attended town meeting Saturday and passed a $1.4 million budget, including nearly $400,000 for the construction of a town garage and $29,805 from the town's ball field fund toward reducing taxes.

Frank Blauvelt, the town's Emergency Management Agency director, moderated the two-hour meeting, which took place at the Community Hall. It was his 33rd year moderating the town meeting.

Pastor Rick Mowry of Spurr's Corner Church opened the meeting with prayer.

Voters approved a capital project consisting of the construction of a town garage on Station Road, not to exceed $400,000. It will be modeled after the Buckfield Town Garage.

After about 30 minutes of discussion, voters also approved to transfer the Heniger Park Ball Field Reserve Fund – with a current balance of $29,805 – to help reduce 2013 taxes. The town's current mill rate is $10.70 per $1,000 of valuation.

Selectman Lenny Adler said that the fund has not been touched for 10-15 years.

Citizens asked whether money in the fund could be used toward updating the athletic fields and playground equipment. Selectmen said that maintaining recreational grounds is the responsibility of the SAD 17 school district.

"We [selectmen] felt a good use of this money would be to put it toward the tax rate, and lessen the burden," said Adler. "Otherwise, it's just going to sit there."

Voters also passed articles to give the state snowmobile registration fund to the Otisfield Trailblazers snowmobile club for trail maintenance and $5,000 for General Assistance for the ensuing year.

Administrative Assistant Marianne Izzo-Morin said that approximately $1,700 was spent on GA last year.

In addition, $5,000 will be used to repair and maintain the Robinson Dam, which is now owned by the town of Oxford.

After a near-unanimous vote to adopt the Property Assessed Clean Energy ordinance, the town will work on establishing a PACE program to allow owners of qualifying property to access low-interest loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes.

Voters also made a motion to keep the Community Hall open year-round for community luncheons, clubs and other activities.

State Rep. Jim Hamper stood briefly before voters to honor Tony and Sandy Jordan for 50 years of dedicated service to the Otisfield Fire Department.

Hal Ferguson will serve another three-year term as selectman, and as chairman for the next year. Richard Bean will continue as the town's road commissioner, and Tom Moore will serve a three-year term as the director for SAD 17.