By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
ORIENT — A change in leadership is taking place in the small community of Orient with the selection of a new town clerk and selectman.
Melony Lowery was elected as the town clerk, tax collector and treasurer during voting on Aug. 27. She replaces the previous town clerk, Alicia Silkey, who held the post for several years. According to Lowery, Silkey relocated to the Florida area earlier this summer.
Results of the elections were as follows:
• Selctman (3-year term) — Dale Foley, 56 votes. Foley ran unopposed.
• School board (3-year term) —Emily Putnam 68 votes. Putnam ran unopposed.
• Town Clerk (1-year term) — Melony Lowery, 60 votes; and Alicia Godfrin, 12.
• Tax collector (1-year term) — Lowery 52 votes; Godfrin, 13; and Richard Rhoda, eight.
• Treasurer (1-year term) — Lowery, 61 votes; and Godfrin, 11.
At the annual town meeting held Aug. 28, a small group of voters approved a $459,438 municipal budget with little discussion.
Of that amount, $176,883 was the town’s share for education. Lowery said she was not sure what the tax implication would be as the tax bills have yet to be finalized.
Voters agreed to put $15,000 in a reserve account for a sand/salt shed.
Lowery said she was excited to be back in her hometown of Orient. The position marks her first time serving as a municipal clerk, but she has many years experience as an office manager.
“I originally grew up in Orient and I happened to go into the town office one day this past summer and saw they were going to need a town clerk,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with the people of Orient. I have a lot of training to do to get up to speed, but I am excited by the challenge.”
