This year's New Portland candidates are: (front, left to right) Edward Tibbetts and Doug Archer, who are running for a three-year term on the board of selectmen; (back) Becky Taylor, Linda Agren and Alice Bixby who are seeking the position of town clerk for a threeyear term. (Laura Dunham photo) NEW PORTLAND — It was Meet the Candidates Night on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the New Portland Fire Station community room with about 15 residents showing up to question who might be the next selectmen or town clerk. Judi Wills conducted the informational meeting laying down the law that "this is not the time to be rude, arrogant or interrupt people who want to speak."

Residents will have a chance to vote on one of the candidates for selectmen and one for town clerk Friday, March 6 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the fire station meeting room at the East Village.

The next day the town meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Central School at the North Village.

Ed Tibbetts took the floor first telling those present that he had lived in town for the past 27 years and had gotten about 50 complaints from taxpayers that there is just too much spending in the town. "We might have to reduce spending in the library and fire department," said Tibbetts, which he felt were both well run.

Doug Archer, who is seeking his third year on the board, said that he had lived in town all his life working at Kingfield Wood Products for 30 years and now for Poland Spring. "I'm always learning more in this position (selectman)," said Archer.

Janet White, selectmen chairman, said to Tibbetts, "We have never seen

you at a selectmen's meeting or a town meeting," and Tibbetts replied, "I never cared before and now I do."

With the State cutting back with funding, White asked Tibbetts and Archer what they plan to do and both agreed that the town should be looking for more grants and possibly ways to cut the transfer station costs, the library and the fire department.

"The ultimate spending in the budget," said White is up to the town's people and not the board.

One problem everyone agreed is that there has to be a way to get the townspeople more involved and try to get them to attend selectmen's meetings. Tibbetts suggested going door to door and welcome the people to come.

White told Tibbetts and Archer "we have two long complaint seasons —winter and mud season— and are you willing to get telephone calls in the middle of the night?" And they both agreed that was no problem and would keep track of such calls and print them in an upcoming New Portland newsletter.

Next came the candidates for the town clerk position.

Linda Agren said she was raised in New Portland is very computer "savvy" and after teaching school and being involved in town government was ready to adapt to the position.

Becky Taylor, who has lived in New Portland for 29 years, said she had worked under the former town manager, Alton Lishness and she and her husband, Gilbert, had operated their own business for many years in town. Taylor also served as Deputy Town Clerk in New Portland and is presently employed at MSAD #74.

Alice Bixby has lived in New Portland 20 years and for the past 10 years has worked under the town manager at the New Portland town office and has been filling in doing some town clerk work and thought she would be good for the position.

White asked all three women if there would be any problem to go to state-required training for the eighthour a-week position and all three said they would be available. Bixby said she already works 11 hours a week at the town office. All three said they would have no problem with helping people even if it was after town office hours; "we're only a phone call away."