LIVERMORE — Voters at Wednesday’s annual town meeting cut the municipal budget to $3.88 million and supported keeping the open meeting format to allow discussion on warrant articles.

Voters cut $20,000 from highway maintenance and $125,000 from capital road improvements.

The 2018-19 budget is 5.4 percent higher than this fiscal year’s, which ends June 30.

Addressing the highway budget, Board of Selectpersons Chairman Tom Gould said, “We just paid for the sand/salt shed. It is full, costs should go down. The salt budget stayed the same, the sand budget increased.”

Selectperson Scott Richmond recommended a $10,000 cut in case more salt is used.

He said if 4 miles of town roads were repaired each year, it would take 10 years to complete repairs to the nearly 40 miles of town roads. Now, the town repairs one mile a year.

He shared road repair options ranging from $350,000 to $525,000.

“Having a plan is a great first step,” Gould said. “I’m opposed to wasting money. We need to prove we can maintain the roads we’re fixing.”

The $350,000 recommended by the Budget Committee was approved.

Voters approved using $40,050 from an insurance company payout and $10,550 from the sale of a damaged plow truck toward the cost of a replacement truck.

They also supported keeping the open town meeting format.

“I don’t want to see this go away,” Gould said. “I like talking back and forth. It’s not broken, don’t try to fix it.”

Voters rejected an offered gift from Dollar General of 10 acres near the town athletic field.

Resident Benjamin Guild said the Planning Board discussed creating walking trails, not buildings, on the property.

One resident said the area is boggy and inaccessible.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net

Several articles drew debate at the Livermore town meeting Wednesday night. Newly elected Selectperson Benjamin Guild shared information on potential uses for a piece of land next to the ball fields that was being offered as a gift to the town. Voters rejected the gift. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser) 

Livermore Budget Committee member Warren Forbes speaks Wednesday at town meeting against moving to an annual budget referendum vote. Voters said no to the question. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)