Waterford voters approve $1.8 million budget
| 2018 Town Report |
 Selectman John Bell answers a question at Saturday's town meeting as Randy Lessard looks on. |
by Leslie Dixon, Staff Writer Sun Journal March 3, 2019
WATERFORD — Voters at the annual town meeting Saturday approved a $1.8 million budget, including $239,446 for highways and bridges and $117,857 for care of winter roads.
The meeting moved along quickly, with voters pausing only to comment on a few issues, such as trucks speeding through the “Flats” section of town and the distribution of winter sand to residents.
The meeting drew about 50 voters who discussed and voted on the 70-article warrant.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Randy Lessard opened the meeting by praising the work of longtime Selectman Wyatt Andrews, who left the board after his defeat to Todd Sawyer in the March 1 annual town election.
Lessard also announced that Brad Grover, the town’s veteran road commissioner, is “scaling back” in the expectation a new road commissioner can be hired.
Under the direction of moderator Sawin Millett, residents discussed and approved a $1.82 million municipal budget, a slight decrease from the $1.86 million approved in 2018.
At $4.07 million, the total budget request for 2019, including municipal, school and county, is down slightly from 2018. Property taxes are expected to remain at $15.40 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Sawyer wins selectman seat
Political newcomer Todd Sawyer beats veteran selectman in annual town election.
by Leslie Dixon, Staff Writer Sun Journal March 2, 2019
WATERFORD — Political newcomer Todd Sawyer handily beat incumbent Wyatt Andrews, 124-29, for a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen on Friday.
“First I would like to thank Wyatt Andrews for his dedicated years to the town,” Sawyer said in a phone interview.
Sawyer also thanked voters for their “support and confidence” and said he looks forward to working with the board in the best interest of the town.
Sawyer, whose family has been involved in local politics for years, is a lifelong resident of Waterford and a manager of a locally operated, internationally owned construction company, and works throughout Maine and parts of New Hampshire.
During his campaign, Sawyer said Waterford, like many other municipalities and the private sector alike, is facing changes in the labor force that will need to be addressed. In the case of Waterford, he said, a talented and experienced, but aging, workforce may force changes in the way things are done as the longtime labor force starts to retire.
He said all options that are in the best interest of the town will need to be considered to address the issue, including changes to organizational structure, partial or full privatization, equipment upgrades and changes.
Andrews was elected selectman in 2010 as a write-in candidate.
Other board members are Randy Lessard and John Bell.
Voters re-elected SAD 17 Director Judith Green to a three-year term. She received 133 votes.
Action on the 70-article warrant continues at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Municipal Office at 366 Valley Road.
Voters will be asked to approve a $1.82 million municipal budget, which is slightly lower than $1.85 million approved in 2018. |
Voters also approved $483,440 to continue tarring or resurfacing town roads. The amount includes a $220,206 rollover from last year, $203,914 from the 2018 excise tax account and $59,320 from the 2018 local roads assistance program account.
Voters also approved $45,000 for fire protection and $10,600 for the fire chief’s and assistant fire chief’s salaries, plus $26,024 for the town’s share of the Stoneham Rescue Service. Officials said safety costs, such as fire and rescue, have remained flat.
Costs to run the Town Office, however, have increased significantly over the past few years, including health insurance for municipal employees. Voters on Saturday approved $91,674 to cover the town’s share of the premiums.
During discussion, residents said they were concerned about winter sand, which is provided to members of the community. Some voters said they worry because the elderly and disabled are asked to retrieve the heavy sand at the Municipal Garage. It was suggested they carry the sand in several buckets to lighten the load.
The sand was moved this year to the front of the Municipal Garage to improve access and safety, Lessard said.
Voters also said they were concerned about motorists who speed through the Flats on Route 35. In response, voters approved a request for $7,500 to increase speed enforcement in the area.
Last year, voters approved funding to set up a moving radar unit, but some residents Saturday said the speeding problem continues, especially by trucks.
Selectman John Bell asked that residents speak with him about ideas for addressing the ongoing problem with speeding. Bell said the $7,500 could be used for radar enforcement by a deputy sheriff, as is done in Harrison, or to add another radar unit. A decision, however, has yet to be made |
