NEW SHARON – A special town meeting was held Saturday morning to discuss concerns raised by voters following last month’s annual meeting.
After passing an article last month which changed the Town Tax Collector and Town Clerk positions from a one year to a three year term, residents voiced the desire to make the same changes to Road Commissioner and Treasurer. Part of the motivation behind the change was to offer the person in position better job security.
“A benefit to changing this position to three years would be that you wouldn’t have to keep sending someone new to the trainings and classes,” Road Commissioner John Pond said. “It’s also pretty hard to plan ahead in a one year term.”
Both articles were passed, changing the Road Commissioner and Treasurer positions to three year terms, beginning with 2018 elections.
An additional concern was raised by voters wishing to have a say on whether or not the town should offer discounts for taxes paid on time.
“We thought it was important to provide an opportunity for the townspeople to vote on the subject,” Selectman Travis Pond said.
The article asked voters to weigh in on whether or not the town should authorize a three percent discount for taxes paid in full within 30 days after tax bills are dated. A separate article asked what amount, if any, should be appropriated from the surplus funds for the discount. Selectmen are recommending a total of $36,000.
Both articles were passed as written, allowing residents of New Sharon to receive the discount when taxes are paid within the first 30 days. The amount of $36,000 will be used from surplus funds to cover the discount.
I am a long time resident of the town, why wasn’t this taking up in the first town meeting, and if the three year term start next year, is the tax discount starting then too, it seem like we have more so-call special town meeting for everything under the sun, let’s make a plan and keep to it, I guess if you cry hard enough you get what you want.( Or you will be label as a town’s a hole for speaking up, or you don’t know what you are talking about) I haven’t see anything life threating that it need a special town meeting for. I have a life and I plan for stuff, maybe the selectmen/woman need to start plaining too. first the town meeting was the first Saturday in March, now we don’t know when it is cause a member has reserve duty, ok great glad to see it, but the whole town got to stop because of it, what happens if he gets call up and has to go overseas of any amount of time what then we put anything on hold. Maybe we need a fill in, or someone on standby. MAKE A PLAN AND STICK TO IT
Great questions, come to a meeting 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 530, I would hate to be part of the Army also known as a dictatorship to protect democracy and cause you a inconvenience on meeting dates I sure hope whomever you are that you would be willing to stand In For me during the next war so I can serve the town and not do a third war
Thank You, Mr. Travis Pond for your dedicated service to our town, and our country.
ME, ME, ME why is it always all about you ? Thanks Travis or ALL you do.
Let’s be glad we can go to town meetings, no matter when or why they’re held, rather than be under a dictatorship. Thanks to those who serve the town, even if we don’t always agree on everything.
Our town is very fortunate to have a man like Travis Pond as part of our town government! Thank you, Travis, for all your service to the town and our country!