JAY — Voters on Tuesday rejected budgets for Town Government and the Sewer Department during the annual town meeting balloting at the polls.

They elected Gary McGrane as fifth selectperson with 247 votes to Selectperson Tom Goding’s 218 and Tony Couture’s 167.

Fourth Selectperson F. Timothy “Tim” DeMillo was re-elected, 397-218, over Ricky Merrill.

Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said 647 voters cast ballots.

The proposed $6.02 million municipal budget for 2017-18 included the second payment to Verso Paper of $1.33 million to settle a multiple-year tax dispute. The proposal was $750,802 more than the current budget. Voters would have to raise $504,102 more in taxes after factoring in revenue.

Voters also:

• Defeated Article 7, which called for $463,765 for Town Government, by a vote of 258-375. The amount was $40,136 less than this fiscal year. 

• Rejected Article 14, a Sewer Department budget of $530,613, by a vote of 251-378. It was $10,407 less than this fiscal year. 

• Approved the Police Department budget of $657,823, by a vote of 320-319. The spending eliminates the detective position and adds a part-time position so the current detective can do some investigative work. 

• Approved the Public Works Department budget by a vote of 318-316.

• Approved the Transfer Station budget, 364-271. That means that curbside trash and recycle pickup is eliminated beginning July 1. It also eliminates a position and will cause the Transfer Station to be open less than it is now.

Selectpersons, Budget Committee members and department heads will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, May 1, at a place to be determined, to decide what to do about the failed articles.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

Jay ballot clerk Leanne Wood, right, shows Fred Hebert where to put his ballot into the voting machine at the Jay Community Building on Tuesday. Residents voted on a $6 million budget and elected town and school officials. 

Gary McGrane

Tim DeMillo