Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

March 14

Athens meeting returns to Grange

By Doug Harlow dharlow@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

BY DOUG HARLOW

Staff Writer

ATHENS -- The big story at the Athens annual town meeting Saturday was, well, the town meeting itself, held in the old Grange hall for the first time in 27 years.

The downstairs of the refurbished hall was freshly painted for the occasion and about 35 residents turned out to vote on articles, which took only about 45 minutes to pass.

There were no contested races in elections held on Friday, but Sonja McSweeney was elected to an open seat on the school board vacated by Alan Linkletter, who did not seek reelection.

Voters approved all of the "money" articles from the floor of the meeting, agreeing to spend $406,542 for the town in the coming year. That figure is about $1,524 lower than last year's figure, which set the tax rate at $13.60 for every $1,000 in property valuation.

A $500 raise in pay for the tax collector, the town clerk and the town treasurer was approved without discussion and voters agreed to spend up to $50,000 per truck for as many as two used trucks for the highway department.

In his letter of transmittal in the annual report, First Selectman Bruce Clavette said the town purchased a truck last year from the state of Vermont, and it worked out well for the town.

He said it was a good idea to do the same thing this year and voters agreed.

Voters also agreed to spend $24,000 for the Athens Volunteer Fire Department; $16,500 for recreation; $71,000 for solid waste disposal and $5,000 for continued improvements to the Grange hall.

During debate on the Grange hall, local volunteer Hillary Lister said a group called Common Grace Community Connection has been formed to look for ideas on fundraising to bring the old building back into the spotlight, with dances, dinners, music and other social functions.

Any member of the community who would like to volunteer their time or share ideas may contact Lister or Jamie Simpson, pastor at the River of Life Christian Fellowship, which meets at the Somerset Academy in Athens every Sunday.

"Our goal is really to bring together as many community groups as possible," Simpson said. "People are already interested in this; people are already wanting to spend some of their time and some of their resources to see the Grange come back to life."

In another article, community volunteer Doug Malloy said he requested the $900 in Article 19 for the Athens Beautification Project, expanding existing gardens downtown to include terracing and a walkway from the school to Main Street. Malloy thanked Miles and Doris Brown and Naomi Barthelmess for their work on the town gardens.

Voters approved the article.

Residents also agreed to raise $170,500 this year for road maintenance. Road spending is broken down to include $30,000 for stockpiling salt and sand; $55,500 for summer roads and $40,000 for winter roads.

Doug Harlow -- 474-9534

dharlow@centralmaine.com