Bremen voters passed all articles on the town meeting warrant March 28, approving the municipal and secondary education budgets in open meeting and a new clam management ordinance by secret ballot.
As in 2014, the appropriation of $3,000 for a land conservation reserve fund was the hot topic for discussion, but unlike 2014 voters did approve the request.
Concerns were raised about appropriating funds for the account without a specific project in mind, but others argued in favor of the appropriation to show annual support for conservation in town, which could help with grants.
The budget committee had again recommended no funds be appropriated for the request.
With the roads and bridges budget, the one item of disagreement between the town’s budget committee and selectmen, voters opted for the selectmen’s lower recommendation of $262,400 over the budget committee’s $274,400 recommendation.
The difference between the two recommendations was on the road maintenance and repair line, at either $110,000 or $122,000.
The larger amount would have funded a double layer of chip sealing, a type of road surface treatment, on the town’s Shore, Muscongus, and Storer roads, and a single layer on Heath Road.
The smaller, approved amount will fund a single layer on all four roads.
In secret ballot voting, the town’s current clam ordinance was repealed and replaced by a vote of 55-18.
The new ordinance changes the way license holders can earn the right to reserve their licenses in upcoming license years, as well as the way conservation work would be done, among other changes.
There were no contested races for office.
Selectman Boe Marsh was reelected for a three year term with 66 votes.
For a three year term on the school board, Kerry Weber received three write-in votes, as did Parker Renelt, the incumbent who was not running for reelection.
For four three-year terms on the planning board, candidates James Boak received 51 votes, Thomas Kronenberer 58 votes, and Walter Voskian, 55 votes.
Write-ins Dennis Prior and John Mohr received five and four votes, respectively, the most of several people receiving write-in votes, moderator Don Means said.
For a single three-year term on the harbor committee, Dale Witham and Fern Poland each received two write-in votes.
Read more about Bremen’s annual town meeting in the next edition of The Lincoln County News.
