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PHILLIPS – Residents voted early and often at the annual town meeting, choosing two selectmen, with several speaking about changes in the town’s future.
Nancy Morgan and Margaret Cosenza were elected over their respective four-candidate fields, following several different votes. The choice must be made by a majority of voters, which prompted two runoff elections for Cosenza and her challengers, Lincoln Haines, Bruce Wilcox and James Eustis, for a three-year seat on the board. Morgan was elected to the single year remaining on Selectman Jon Wilbur’s seat, beating out Charles Wilbur, Raymond Gaudette and Josh Bachelder, in the third runoff election.
The final runoff election results were, for the three-year term: Cosenza with 64 votes, Haines with 50, and for the one-year term: Morgan with 60 votes, Gaudette with 49. Evelyn Wilbur, running unopposed, was reelected as the town clerk.
All elected officials received a round of applause after the results were announced.
The two new selectmen will join Selectman John Stinchfield on the board. Sinchfield, joined at the table by Budget Committee member Timothy Abbott to help explain the budget to residents, is the only selectman currently serving on the board. Selectman Steve Charles completed his term this month and had decided not to seek reelection. Selectman Jon Wilbur resigned with one more year left on his term.
Also absent from the table at the front of the Phillips Elementary gymnasium was the former town manager, Jim Collins, who resigned from his job a couple of weeks before the meeting. His departure may represent a turning point for the town’s government; with several residents suggesting that selectmen consider a part-time town manager.
The interim town manager is Elaine Hubbard, the town’s tax collector.
Unlike some previous meetings, which were at-times contentious, residents were extremely positive about the proceedings and future of Phillips. Several candidates expressed interest in bringing new jobs to the community through tax breaks, revitalization campaigns and other stratagems. Others said they looked to improving the town’s working relationship with nearby Avon, which had been strained following several months of back-and-forth over transfer station and fire protection services. Residents and candidates, also spoke to the creation of a committee to pursue economic development in Phillips.
Prompted by recent events, budget committee members had spent several hours in meetings after the town report had been published, but before the meeting itself. They had suggestions for cuts in an already-frugal budget which was already $44,000 below the LD1 limit, having spent time reviewing all accounts.
Committee Member Dain Trafton, speaking on behalf of the committee, recommended cutting $7,000 from the general administration article; roughly 5 percent of the originally-proposed $145,963 recommendation. Trafton said that he felt a less extensive cut was preferable to a major one, as to give selectmen financial flexibility to develop a plan for the operation of town government.
“A larger percentage cut would tie the hands of our new selectmen,” Trafton said. “The new board won’t have to spend everything that we raise.”
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Another committee member, Kenneth Ziglar, made another reduction on Article 17, which funds the Highway Department. While town officials had previously assumed that $430,000 would be necessary to maintain road maintenance operations, the budget committee discovered that number was actually comprised of both funds raised through taxation as well as other sources: bonds, grants, state and federal money. Therefore, Ziglar explained, only $375,236 would need to be raised, coupled with the funds remaining in the account at the end of the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
The reductions reduce the original municipal appropriation total of $967,251, which had represented a 1.5 percent increase from the current fiscal year.
Recognized at the meeting was Winona Davenport, for whom the town report was dedicated, and Laura Toothaker, for her work in the American Legion Auxiliary. Rep. Tom Saviello (R – Wilton) brought a pair of expressions of legislative sentiment for both women.
“I’d like to thank those that were responsible for dedicating the town report to me,” Davenport said. “It was completely unexpected and a very pleasant surprise.”
Davenport’s local accomplishments include starting the Scarecrow Reunion, working in both the conservation commission and chamber of commerce, and writing a book, “Phillips, Through My Eyes.”
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