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Avon voters save $105K at town meeting

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AVON – Voters turned down a total of $105,500 in requests which included a new plow truck and support for three organizations at town meeting this morning.

Selectmen had recommended not buying the new plow truck Road Commissioner Jerry Haines wanted. Selectman John Calloway said earlier this week that the two trucks have relatively low mileage so a new truck isn’t needed now. Without any discussion coming from voters, moderator Richard Caton asked for a written ballot vote on the question of spending $100,000 for a new dump/plow truck. While votes were cast and counted, Haines said, in response to a reporter’s question, that the trucks currently have $45,000 miles on them, are pretty beat up and are beginning to have rust issues.

“We’re driving them all the time and in a few years they’ll both need to be replaced at once. If we wait till then, we’ll have to pay $200,000 all at once,” Haines said. On the vote tally, 23 residents said no to buying a new truck and 8 said yes.


Avon’s Road Commissioner Jerry Haines casts his ballot at today’s annual town meeting.

Voters unanimously turned down the $1,000 request of the Prescott-Fairbanks Post 64 American Legion located in Phillips. The Legion asked for the donation, noting it helps area veterans, helps with community events, has a scholarship program and more. Resident Joyce Potter said she thought this shouldn’t be supported through taxpayer funding but, rather, through private donations. Voters agreed.

Community Concepts, Inc., and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce requests met the same fate.

Community Concepts asked for a “local match” of $1,000 to help defray costs of services provided, but listed in its letter request several services it provides to other towns. Voters said no.

The Chamber asked for $1,500, but one resident said, “I don’t know what they do for us,” and voters, with little more discussion, turned down the request.

There was plenty of lively discussion throughout the meeting. A lot of discussion revolved around winter and summer road maintenance and scheduled work. All of the requests for plowing ($30,000), general repair of road in the summer ($28,000) and the big project- a loan of $200,000 to repave the Avon Valley Road and combine it in a refinancing of last year’s Cross Road repaving project loan for a better interest rate.

“I’m nervous about the economy. It’s a worthy project. I’d like to get the roads fixed,” Janne Haines said of the road repaving. “It does make me nervous; people losing their jobs and can’t pay their taxes.”

Voters approved the repaving project and refinancing.

Also approved were interlocal agreements with the town of Phillips for fire protection and transfer station use and the $45,000 for Avon’s projected share of costs for the transfer station and $17,823 for estimated costs for fire protection from Phillips and $6,000 for Strong’s fire protection.

Voters funded $1,000 for the new position of deputy tax collector, which treasurer Maureen Haley agreed to take on. Selectman Jerry Gilchrist earned another term, and Mary Dunham was elected town clerk and tax collector.

Steve Weiner, who died in November 2008 after serving as Avon’s tax collector for 16 years was remembered in a special tribute. Rep. Tom Saviello presented Nancy Weiner with a legislative message of condolence. Mary Dunham announced a potluck gathering will be held 11 to 2 p.m. on May 16 “to remember Steve by telling stories and having fun,” she said tearing up.

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