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NORRIDGEWOCK

Town rejects change to treasurer's post

By Erin Rhoda erhoda@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

NORRIDGEWOCK -- Residents at Monday night's town meeting overwhelmingly supported keeping the town treasurer's position an elected one.

Of 88 votes cast, 55 people, or 62.5 percent, voted in favor of an elected position. Thirty-three votes opposed the measure.

Residents also voted to slightly decrease the $1,239,888 budget that selectmen proposed. The approved budget of $1,234,388 eliminates $5,500 for fireworks and subscriptions at the library.

The approved budget is 6.85 percent lower than the 2009 budget.

In the only contested item on the ballot, residents picked Heidi Chartrand and Allan Laney for the School Administrative District 54 board.

Chartrand, who succeeds Lisa Hickey, received 141 votes. Laney, an incumbent, received 87 votes. Kerri Everett received 81 and Valerie Coulombe received 68.

Before the vote on whether to change the treasurer's position to an appointed one, Ron Smith, a certified public accountant and managing partner at RHR Smith and Company, recommended to the crowd in the Mill Stream Elementary School gym that they make the switch, so selectmen could hire the most qualified treasurer to handle the town's money.

Selectman Tom Lint emphasized that making the position an appointed one was not an attack on the current town treasurer but a "sound, prudent fiscal means of running a business."

Resident Etta Tappan countered that people should not give up their votes. "I'm a first-generation American, and I'll be darned if I'm going to give up my vote," she said. "This is about our town having the ability to choose."

After the vote to make the position an appointed one failed, town treasurer Charlotte Curtis, who also acts as town clerk, office clerk and municipal agent, said she was relieved.

"It's nice to know the townspeople have that confidence in me. It really is," she said.

It was the third time residents opposed the change.

While there is no plan to do so, Town Manager Michelle Flewelling said the town could institute a job description for the town treasurer position, which would require approval at a town meeting. While the treasurer's duties are set by state law, the town could require certain qualifications, if voters consent, she said.

The $1.23 million budget does not include a standalone item of $500,000 for road projects, half of which is financed through host benefit fees from Waste Management.

"I felt the meeting was a success," Flewelling said. "Of course, we always wish there would be more people that would turn out, but we were glad for those who were there, and it was a good meeting."

Erin Rhoda -- 474-9534

erhoda@centralmaine.com