Woodstock finances stronger than last year

WOODSTOCK — Certified Public Accountant Lance Bean pronounced Woodstock's finances to be healthy at the Board of Selectmen's meeting on March 15.

Bean recently completed the town's annual audit.

"Our overall perception is that you are stronger than you were a year ago," he told the board. He approved the town's segregated system of check handling as a good way to ensure financial accountability, something lacking in some other towns in Maine.

Other good indicators of financial health are that the town has no debt and is not borrowing against future taxes, said Bean.

Selectman Ronald Deegan complimented Town Manager Vern Maxfield and Clerk Rose Frasier on their fiscal acumen.

Town leaders were not happy with efforts to find a reasonably-priced plow truck.

Maxfield reported that the only quote so far received was $98,000 for a Peterbilt cab and chassis. This price is seen as "outrageous" by all selectmen. Maxfield said "We'll keep at it." Outgoing Selectman Bruce Korhonen will be looking at several other truck distributors this week. The town is seeking a replacement for the 1999 plow truck.

In an effort to keep the town's health insurance policy "around $70,000," Maxfield is meeting with another agent. The current policy is scheduled to go up by approximately 30 percent.

In reporting that preparations are nearly complete for town meeting, Maxfield said he spoke to the donor who partially funded work on the old fire station, who is "disappointed that things didn't work out." All Selectmen discussed the possibility of using the library basement as a recreation center, possibly combined with the old town garage.

The Town meeting is March 28, 2011 at 7:00 at the Woodstock Elementary School. The next regular selecmen's meeting is April 5 at 5 p.m.