minutes to a meeting : elect new fire chief

Residents at the town meeting on Saturday approved an estimated $3 million municipal budget and elected Scott Hunter as fire chief. Hunter will replace Fred Knightly, who has held the post for about 26 years.

Voters approved every article as it was written. They agreed to raise $406,208 for the administrative account, $369,311 for the Police Department and $433,915 for the Highway Department.

Residents voted to spend $200,708 for the Fire Department, $168,921 for the Rescue Department and $75,750 for the fire and traffic protection account. Hunter, a nonresident, will serve as fire chief for three years.

Laurence Sanborn, a resident since 1956, said the turnout was small, with 110 residents out of around 4,100 attending, but the meeting went well.

Voters agreed to raise $413,100 for the capital-improvement projects account. The town also passed a cemetery ordinance.

In the elections, residents re-elected Floyd Thayer and Dennis Sanborn to the Board of Selectmen for three-year terms. Sanborn and Thayer also were elected as assessors for three-year terms.

John Palmer was re-elected to the board of directors for School Administrative District 17 for a three-year term. Penny Lowe was re-elected to the water district.

Copyright © 2005, Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.