PHIPPSBURG

About 120 Phippsburg residents attended the annual Town Meeting on Tuesday night to approve and discuss budget items and warrant articles that will affect the town next year, though many were passed without much debate.

As predicted by Selectboard Chairwoman Julia House last week, articles 47 and 48 kindled the most discussion among voters, as it addressed the future of the town’s winter road maintenance in light of Harry and Curtis Doughty’s retirement from snow plowing and sanding this year.

With 90 years of combined service to the town, both father and son were honored for their services by the Board of Selectmen at Tuesday’s meeting.

“There’s just no way to measure what they have done for us,” said Selectman Everett Perkins.

Voters approved the estimated road maintenance budget of $380,000, which includes provisions for winter maintenance, as the board has been researching alternatives to hire, rent or contract individuals or companies for snow removal in 2016.

At the meeting, Perkins shared that the selectboard has been researching costs related to snow plow equipment rentals and paying a town employee at an hourly rate for winter services: “We decided to take another look to do this in house, the way we’ve been doing it,” he said.

According to a straw poll taken by the Board of Selectmen at the meeting, most residents were in favor of renting equipment and hiring employees on an hourly basis, rather than entering into a contract bid.

“We should try to keep the services in our community, especially in winter when the roads are falling apart,” said John Skroski, Phippsburg’s police chief. “Having this service come from another community may not be advantageous for (us).”

This poll will help the selectmen make a final decision, according to article 48, which voters approved to authorize the board to enter into a three-year contract with one or more individuals or companies for winter snow removal and sanding with the approved budget in mind.

Jim Totman, the town’s fire chief, encouraged residents to trust the board’s final decision.

“I really think we need to put our faith in the select people and the road commissioner, and I feel they will come with a real satisfied answer,” he said. “They’re working hard on this — it’s just a big surprise to everyone because we’ve been fortunate, but you have to look at it both ways to really come up with a good figure.”

Residents also approved article 53, which will allow the town to raise and appropriate funds to modify the Center Pond River Herring fish ladder, according to research conducted last year.

Claire Enterline, Maine Department of Marine Resources specialist, was present at the meeting, and said the Center Pond River Herring Committee found that the current fishway allows only half of the alewives to pass through. They are also working to open a harvest in a couple of years.

The board recommended a payment of $20,000 toward the project this year, with the plan being to pay the $20,000 amount over the course of five years, as the estimated cost for these modifications is approximately $200,000. However, it is predicted that fundraising and grants will help offset these costs.

Enterline also added that the $200,000 estimate includes a 25 percent contingency, and may end up costing the town less than what is expected.

“While it does show a lot of support from the town, we will be actively seeking other funders,” she said. “Usually you have to match 50 percent of non-federally funded money.”

Aside from five “no” votes, voters also approved of article 74 through a written ballot in which the town voted to increase the property tax levy limit of $1,171,207, as the amount over the limit is estimated to be $84,157, according to the warrant.

At the meeting, Board of Selectmen also honored Totman and Martha Smith, Transfer Station attendant, who will be retiring from their positions this year.

Though Smith was not present to receive her honor, Totman received a standing ovation from residents for his 22 years of service as fire chief.

dkim@timesrecord.com