Jefferson voters approved all 33 articles on the warrant for the annual town meeting by referendum Tuesday, March 27, and elected four members of the Jefferson Budget Committee in a five-way race.
With the passage of all articles, the municipal budget totals $857,070, an increase of $28,470 or 3.44 percent from the 2017 municipal budget.
Passing by a margin of 115-20, the administration portion of the budget totals $323,870, an increase of $29,480 or 10.01 percent.
The increase includes a full year’s salary for a town clerk, whereas the last budget included six months of salary for the position.
Article 13, dealing with a $45,952 state block grant for the reconstruction of Somerville Road, passed 120-22.
Article 14 proposed an additional $9,500 for reconstruction of Somerville Road and Article 15 proposed $3,000 for other roadwork on Somerville Road. The articles passed 114-27 and 114-26, respectively.
Voters approved Article 16 by a margin of 131-10, authorizing the town to appropriate up to $200,000 from surplus for the repaving and reconstruction of town roads.
According to Selectman Gregory Johnston, the intent of the request, not made at previous town meetings, is to allow the town to shore up roads and accomplish more paving than possible through state block grant funding alone.
Article 17 covered the raising and appropriation of $30,000 for the Jefferson Fire and Rescue Fire Truck and Rescue Reserve Fund. The article received approval from voters by a margin of 119-22.
According to Town Clerk Angela Hinds, 143 voters participated in this year’s town meeting.
Municipal elections
Running unopposed, Selectman Pamela Grotton was re-elected to a three-year term with 129 votes.
Wayne Parlin, running unopposed for a three-year seat on the Jefferson School Committee, was elected with 111 votes.
Five residents ran for four spots on the budget committee. Lisa Hodgkins, 104 votes; Wayne Farrin, 103; Blaine Kimball, 102; and Bruce Sedgewick, 82; were elected to three-year terms.
Richard Parlin Jr. received 80 votes.
The polls were open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Jefferson fire station.
