Buxton voters chose incumbent Dan Collomy and Linda Pulsoni for town selectmen in Tuesday’s election, narrowly approved borrowing $1.8 million for a public works garage and approved a $38.9 million SAD 6 budget.
In a tight race for selectman, Collomy, 75, led a field of six candidates with 354 votes while Pulsoni, 54, tallied 340, ousting incumbent Carol Sanborn by 18 votes with 322. Peter Burns received 306 votes; Wanda Emery, 198; and Mark Smith Sr., 66. Collomy is the present chairman of the board.
Voters approved a new town garage by a slim margin, 417 to 411. The town will borrow up to $1.8 million with a 20-year bond to construct the garage on the municipal complex site on Portland Road. With interest, the garage is expected to cost $2.7 million.
The authorization marked a first for the town. Buxton doesn’t have any existing bonds to repay.
The garage replaces the existing town garage built in 1953 on Haines Meadow Road in Buxton Center. Proponents of a new garage said the present garage is outdated.
Resident Ron Tardif favored the new garage and voted yes. “We need one. You ought to see the wreck they’ve got up there,” Tardif said.
In other local referendum action, Buxton voters rejected by 16 votes, 459-443, a proposal to hire a professional, part time town planner for $15,000. They also overwhelming opposed, 582-313, to spend $150,000 to repair and restore the former town hall in Buxton Center.
Buxton favored both state referendum questions – a $112 million bond for highway and other infrastructure upgrades; and $18 million to support drinking water programs.
The town’s voters gave the green light, 508-401, to a $38.9 million SAD 6 budget. The budget requires collective approval from voters in all SAD 6 communities, which include Hollis, Limington, Standish and Frye Island in addition to Buxton.
John Myers, Buxton town clerk, said 949 ballots were cast, representing 15.8 percent of the town’s voters.
Cutline (Dan Collomy) – Buxton voters reelected Dan Collomy as selectman in Tuesday
Cutline (Linda Pulsoni)
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