Buxton voters passed a $4.9 million town budget, including a 20 percent hike for the fire department, at the annual town meeting Saturday.
Selectmen had recommended $635,000, up $100,000 from the department budget passed a year ago. Fire Chief Jim Graves, who was hired last fall, asked for the extra money to make improvements to comply with safety standards and to purchase 20 sets of protective clothing for firefighters.
“This fella seems to have it all together,” said Herb Ranks, a 50-year volunteer and a former chief at the Buxton’s Chicopee fire station. “I support the increase.”
Resident Sylvia Young made a motion, which failed, to accept the town’s budget committee recommendation of $575,000 for the fire department.
The $752,000 police department budget escaped unscathed after apparent talk about shooting it town. Leading up to the town meeting, a rumor had buzzed through Buxton that dissatisfaction in police handling of a December traffic fatality threatened passage of the department’s budget.
But resident Brad Traver spoke in favor of Buxton police. “I think we’ve got a fine police department,” Traver said.
In a show of hands, the budget passed, 50-33. Before the vote, a motion that asked for a paper ballot vote failed, 42-33.
Voters also approved $22,000 for a new police cruiser. The highway department will be getting a new, $112,000 dump truck equipped with a snow plow and sander.
In other action, $275,000 for road maintenance was approved in addition to a separate article for $25,000 to repair Spruce Swamp Road. Dianne Senechal, selectmen’s assistant, unsuccessfully tried to postpone the Spruce Swamp Road request for a year.
Voters approved two sign ordinance changes, allowing the Hannaford supermarket, which is under construction, to have signs at entrances on both Portland Road and Route 202.
Selectman Bob Libby estimated that the tax rate for each $1,000 of valuation would be in the $9-$9.50 range. Libby said that figure would be based on a 100 percent valuation, factored up from the present 70 percent.
Scouts from Pack and Troop 349 posted the colors in ceremonies opening the town meeting.
Cutline (BUX meeting 2) – In a ceremony Saturday, Troop 349 Boy Scouts open Buxton’s annual town meeting. Send questions/comments to the editors.
