KINGFIELD – After two ballots, voters elected Mervin Wilson to a three-year selectman’s term to replace 12-year veteran Selectman John Dill, who decided not to run again, at today’s annual town meeting.
In the three-way race on the first ballot, Ray Meldrum received the majority of votes with 67, Wilson got 49 and Scott Hoisington, 34 votes. Meldrum’s 67 didn’t meet the required 50 percent plus 1 of the 150 voters, meaning 76 votes needed, so a runoff vote was held. Before voters cast their ballots, candidate Hoisington withdrew his name from consideration and said he would be voting for Wilson. At the final ballot, Wilson received 78 votes and Meldrum 63, in a race where 141 people voted, with 71 needed to win.
The well-attended meeting at Kingfield Elementary School lasted a little over three hours as voters mulled over the 33-article town warrant. Selectmen and the Budget Committee recommended a flat budget totaling $697,980.
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Voters, however, added a total of $5,700 more that recommendation. $1,000 more than the boards’ recommendation was given to the Kingfield Days Festvial to total $3,000. Voters also added $1,000 to total $2,000 for the Kingfield POPs summer concert and $1,000 went towards the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce when the Budget Committee recommended $300. In addition, voters granted the full requested amount of $3,000 to the Sno-Wanderers for trail up keep.
Originally, the snowmobile club money request was to come out of the tax increment financing share the town receives in a deal with Poland Spring plant, but it was found that snowmobile trail maintenance is not on the list of approved projects TIF can fund, so an amendment was made to change the wording of the article to say the money would come out of the town’s general fund.
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All of the arguments surrounding the reasons why voters were in favor of the extra funding centered on finding ways to help boost the town’s economic vitality. Kingfield Days, Kingfield POPs, the active Chamber membership and keeping the snowmobile trails groomed, all were argued by several residents who spoke that the money for those projects is fundamental toward keeping visitors coming to town and going to restaurants and businesses.
“Kingfield Days create some economic vitality and a good time,” said John Goldfrank, who serves on the Budget Committee. “These are valuable events for the town.”
Explaining the reason why selectmen recommended a lower amount be appropriated for the events, Selectman Neal McCurdy said, “We wanted to give voters the option and we didn’t want you to think we’re spending all your money.”
Voters approved the updates to the town’s zoning and shoreland ordinances in order to get in line with the state and adjusted the wording of the fire Department’s billing to allow for out-of-town incidences where the equipment is used to be possibly reimbursed by insurance.
