At the polls on March 30, Jefferson voters approved raises for the town officers, $20,000 for the fire truck reserve fund and elected a new Road Commissioner.
The Road Commissioner position was the only contested race on the ballot this year, and Alan Johnston defeated incumbent Nathan Northrup 220 to 181.
“The voters have spoken,” Johnston said. “Thank you to all my supporters and people who got out to the polls and voted for me.”
Johnston, who will serve a three-year term, said he will work as quickly as possible once he’s been sworn in by the selectmen. He’ll start the grading and ditch work on the roads for which voters approved funding, including the Valley Road, Hodgkins Hill Road and the County Road.
Voters also approved the use of state block grant funds to rebuild the Sennett Road, Goose Hill Road, Charlie O’Way and Hodgkins Hill Road. The total amount approved for specific road projects, including the block grant money, is $61,706.
The total budget approved for this year is $671,650, a decrease of about $52,000 from last year’s budget.
The approved budget includes raises for several town officers.
The salary increases are at 2 percent for deputy clerks and a $1500 increase to be divided amongst the selectmen. The town clerk will be a salaried position for the first time, with a salary of $43,000 per year.
The raises passed with the rest of the administrative budget, $230,945, by a margin of 238 to 174.
The only item on the warrant that didn’t pass was $845 for Midcoast Maine Community Action, opposed 207 to 199. The nonprofit provides heating assistance, Headstart, job training and low-income assistance, according to the town report.
All the other contributions to charitable organizations passed, most by sizable margins.
Gregory Briggs, Pamela Grotton, Scott Henry and Wayne Parlin were elected to three-years terms on the budget committee.
Alan Johnston defeated Nathan Northrup for a three-year term as Road Commissioner, 220 to 181.
Joan Jackson and Robert Westrich were elected to three-year terms on the school committee with 335 and 266 votes respectively.
