By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
WESTMANLAND — An estimated 25 residents from Westmanland attended the 2012 annual town meeting held at the town office on March 15. Resident David Cyr was chosen to preside over the meeting as moderator.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Westmanland resident Dave Cyr served as moderator at the annual town meeting on March 15.
Prior to voting on the agenda warrants, the residents voted Richard Smith to serve as first selectman; Darrell McDougal, second selectman; and Erich Margeson, third selectman. Kasey McNeally was re-elected to fill a position on the school committee and will also serve on the town’s appeals board. Edmund Margeson was re-elected to his seat on the Westmanland board of assessment review.
Via a show of hands residents approved the following warrants.
• To authorize the municipal officers to spend an amount not to exceed one-tenth of the budgeted amounts in each budgeted category of the 2012 annual budget during the period from Feb. 1, 2012 to the annual town meeting.
• To authorize the Selectmen to procure a temporary loan or loans in anticipation of taxes for the purpose of paying obligations of the town such loan or loans to be repaid during the current year out of money raised by taxes.
• Taxes become due upon demand.
• That the town have a discount date of July 31, 2012 with a 2 percent rate discount (appropriated $2,000) for prompt payment of taxes.
• That as of Dec. 1, interest shall be added at the rate of 7 percent upon taxes remaining unpaid (the state allows a maximum of 7 percent charged interest).
• $16,925 the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for regular instruction.
• $9,958 the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for special education.
• $0 for expenditures regarding other instruction.
• $0 for student and staff support expenditures.
• $8,048 for school administrative system administration (superintendent/office).
• $31,219 for school administrative unit transportation and buses.
• $0 facility maintenance expenditures.
• $0 school administrative unit expenditures for debt services and other commitments.
• $0 for all other school administrative unit expenditures.
• $26,000 for total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12.
• $0 regarding sum the municipality/district/unit will raise and appropriate for the annual payments on debt service previously approved by the legislative body for non state-funded school construction projects.
• $66,150 for school committee to expend for the fiscal years beginning July 1, and ending July 30, 2013 from the school administrative unit’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12.
• $45,000 to raise and appropriate for the town’s general government.
• $15,000 for cemetery maintenance.
• $30,000 for snow removal and roads.
• $666.50 for ambulance service.
• $6,000 municipal waste site.
• $200 for continuation of inter-jurisdictional agreement with the Caribou Emergency Management Agency.
• Authorized payment to the appropriate club (Nordic Lakers), refunds from snowmobile registrations for trail maintenance during the snowmobile season.
• Raise and appropriate $3,645.36 for fire protection.
• $529.10 in contributions.
• To accept any grant money the town may receive from state, federal and private agencies for the maintenance of the Little Madawaska Lake Road.
• Amount of unexpended $43,845.59 in funds to be used to reduce tax commitment.
• Transfer $591.70 from state park account to the schoolhouse account.
• $45,000 for the Little Madawaska Lake Road.
• $10,000 toward culvert on the Westmanland Road. (Selectmen recommendation to raise $10,000 in 2012, and 2013 with balance in 2014).
• $8,500 for building and equipment fund.
• $2,000 to replace windows in town hall. (Selectmen recommendation to raise $2,000 in 2012 with balance in 2013).
• Town shall accept all state funds as provided by the Maine State Legislature.
• Set date of the third Thursday in March 2013 at 7 p.m. as next annual town meeting.
