PHILLIPS — Residents gathered Thursday night at the Phillips Area Community Center to elect municipal representatives and set the budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

In the three-hour meeting, voters approved the $1.3 million budget, which is $9,257 more than current spending.

Nick Caton defeated Margaret Cosenza and incumbent selectman Lincoln Haines for a seat on the three-member board.

None of the three candidates received a majority of the votes, so residents were required to cast ballots in a second round. Caton received 49 votes, Haines received 35 votes and Cosenza received two votes. Voters also re-elected incumbent Lynette Abbott and elected Sharon Dudley to fill the seat vacated by Lydia Pickle.

Barbara Bangs was elected town clerk, explaining that health concerns required long-serving town clerk Evelyn Wilbur to resign.

Much discussion revolved around unpaid taxes, foreclosed property and whether selectmen can authorize Town Manager Maureen Haley to accept back taxes after the automatic foreclosure date is in effect. Resident Donna Chamberlain also asked if selectmen might be allowed to foreclose on a property because they wanted to purchase it.

“The Maine Municipal Association states that selectmen are not allowed to vote on property they have foreclosed on,” said Selectman Ray Gaudette.

Chris Hardy, chairman of the Planning Board, explained the board has had several hearings to explain how the new rules would be implemented. Unsafe and unsightly properties would have to meet specific criteria before any action could be taken. The goal of the ordinance, Hardy explained, was not to punish residents.

Residents who have specific vehicles for special purposes, like race cars or tractors, would be exempt. Some in the audience were concerned that selectmen and the code enforcement officer had too much authority to decide what was junk or a nuisance or private property.

“This is vague and needs to be thrown out,” resident Dick Mitchell said.

Resident Dick Matthews explained that the code enforcement officer would work with the property owner to resolve legitimate issues. In a 45-38 vote, residents approved the proposed ordinance.

Voters also agreed in a 35-29 vote to abandon plans to pay a share of costs to rebuild the dilapidated Main Street sidewalks. That vote authorizes selectmen to pay the nearly $52,000 bill for the work that’s already been done in the planning process.

Resident Tim Abbott said the taxpayers would have to spend $145,000 to buy the specialized plowing equipment and also pay an employee every winter for the next 20 years.

In 2012, the town’s share was about $60,000 for the work in 2015. The Maine Department of Transportation has delayed the 2015 project and federal and state funding to complete the project in 2019 are in jeopardy.

Phillips residents vote at the annual town meeting on Thursday evening. (Valerie Tucker/Sun Journal)