CHESTER — Town Meeting will consider a $3.4 million operating budget more than a dozen warrant articles for fiscal year 2009 when it votes on May 14.
Warrant articles include road improvements, construction projects and a vehicle and staffing for the police department. The list was not final as of press time; residents had until the end of the day Wednesday, April 8, to submit articles for the warrant.
The operating budget for fiscal 2009, which begins July 1, shows a 4 percent increase — or $134,428 — from the current budget, according to Budget Committee member Rhonda Lamphere.
She said selectmen and committee members worked hard to keep the budget balanced. Some expenditures are less than or equal to the current year's totals.
"We needed to (consider) Chester's households and the ability to make ends meet," she said.
Articles to pay for road repairs include Jennifer Drive, Fremont Road, Holman Way, Parker Road and Rand Drive. Construction projects include $275,000 to repair the Wason Pond Dam and $120,000 for engineering plans to reconstruct and repair Fremont and Lane roads.
Town Meeting will be asked to approve $85,000 to be added to the Winter Road Maintenance Expendable Trust Fund, established in 2006 for sanding, salting and plowing roads and for compensating workers for winter road care and maintenance. Selectman Mike Weider said the winter road maintenance fund was basically depleted this winter, and the fund needs to be replenished.
The Budget Committee and selectmen credited Road Agent Mike Oleson for working hard to keep the budget intact while tackling the town's road projects and plans for next year's budget, while also indexing the roads and supplying engineering work for the projects he handles.
If you go:
Town Meeting: May 14, 7 p.m. in the town's multipurpose room.
Election Day: Tuesday, May 13, at the town's multipurpose room for town and school district officials.
