HARRISON — Incumbent Selectman Bill Winslow and political newcomer Christine Davis won election to the Board of Selectmen in Tuesday’s annual town election.

Winslow, the current board chairman, garnered 315 votes. Davis polled 266 to fill the second vacant seat on the board vacated by Lisa Villa, who did not seek re-election to the Board of Selectmen after two terms. Both seats are three-year terms.

Gordon Davis won election to one of two, three-year seats on the Planning Board with 308 votes. James Dayton was elected to fill the second seat with 250 votes.

Jonathan Whitney was re-elected to a five-year term on the Appeals Board with 327 votes.

Albert Lisowski was re-elected to a seat on the Oxford Hills School District Board of Directors with 308 votes.

Voters approved a fireworks ordinance intended to regulate the use of fireworks in town by a 236-130 vote.

Town Manager Bud Finch said in his weekly address to residents that without the implementation of the ordinance, the town would have little to no control over safety and nuisance factors that could happen under new state fireworks laws. The ordinance, he said, is intended simply to protect a person’s right to safety and quiet at times rather than control a person’s right to use fireworks.

Voters also acted on two referendum questions that were on the ballot after a citizen requested them. Many questions were raised each year at town meeting time about the financial feasibility of continuing the practice of hiring a “summer” deputy. 

Harrison has had one for a number of years to help with the influx of summer people. A total of 145 voters said yes to a summer deputy but 223 said no. Finch said Harrison has utilized a summer officer for an additional 40 hours a week, but with budgeting concerns from taxpayers for the cost of policing, selectmen and budget committee recommended a no vote.

A total of 242 people approved paying for a full-time deputy and 129 voted against it. Selectmen recommended maintaining the full-time deputy as the only policing alternative available at this time.

ldixon@sunjournal.com