NEW PORTLAND — It took a little over two hours for some 50 residents to act on 42 articles at the annual town meeting on Saturday at the New Portland Community Building, slashing about $22,500 compared to last year’s budget.

The most discussion was concerned the articles presented by the fire department. Although some voters like Polly McMichael tried to amend many articles most of them passed as recommended by the selectmen.

Voters gave their approval to take $17,000 from surplus for repairs on the town fire trucks’ pumps. The sum of $35,139 for oper- ating expenses for the Fire Department was approved, after an amendment of $30,000 was defeated and after an amended vote that resulted in a tie; the voters finally approved $5,000 for the Fire Truck Replacement Fund. Voters also approved the sum of $2,971 for fire training; $5,993 for a loan payment on the fire station; and $13,629 for Debt Service on the 1995 Piece Fire Truck.

Voters however recommended no funds be raised for a reserve account for a grader replacement, along with no funds to be raised for a Special Road Project on the Hancock Pond Road. Brenda Stevens, who lives on the road, said it would be terrible to pave and widen the road the way the people drive on it now. One resident suggested putting the funds into the Middle Road but the moderator, Kenneth Lexier, said that the roads couldn’t be changed at Saturday’s meeting. Although the town is currently involved in a lawsuit, the voters still cut the Legal Fee account to $1,500 rather than the $5,000 recommended by the selectmen.

Voters agreed to raise the sum of $1,105 for the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments membership fees; $1,511 for Maine Municipal Association dues; $1,500 for assessing, tax mapping and tax billing; $23,455 for subsidy for the local ambulance service; $4,800 for the town audit; $1,500 for the Who Care Food Cupboard; $2,450 for the upkeep of the cemeteries; $1,200 to repair headstones; $2,500 for the New Portland Community Library; $3,000 to publish the New Portland newsletter and $51,316 for the town‘s share of the operating costs for the Kingfield-New Portland Transfer Station .

Voters also approved the winter road account of $198,000 which will come from taxation, excise tax and balance forward. The summer road maintenance account was also approved at $116,700.

Town clerk Becky Taylor, who opened the meeting, gave the results of Friday’s voting announcing that Wayne Rundlett had won the three-year position on the board of selectmen with Janet White stepping down after 12 years on the board. Valerie Pinkham won the position on the school board.

During a break, voters enjoyed refreshments provided by volunteers to raise monies for Christmas tree lights and flags for the town.

It was at that time that former town assessor Bert Dyer presented New Portland’s oldest resident Nona Young with a replica of the Boston Post Cane made by Dyer and titled The New Portland Cane of Longevity. Dyer said that the residents were proud to present Young, a resident for more than 30 years, with the cane that will be on display at the town office along with a plaque with Young’s name added to it. Young thanked everyone and then paid her thanks to Dallas Landry who puts out the New Portland newsletter each month.