'Bragg'-ing rights: Former town clerk ousts incumbent selectman chair Heath
Harrison Thorp 8:04 a.m.
COPYRIGHT2017© LEBANON - Lebanon residents Laura Bragg and Richard "Chip" Harlow stormed to easy wins on Tuesday to become the town's newest selectmen during Town Elections, but it wasn't without some drama. First, vote counters took about two hours to determine the results as dog-tired candidates lined one wall of the Lebanon Elementary School gymnasium. Then around 10 p.m. elections chief Roxanne Bumford announced that Bragg and her opponent, incumbent selectman Royce Heath, were virtually tied at around 230 votes apiece, with the results still preliminary. After she had completed the tally on all the referenda, several, including Heath; Bragg's husband, Tony and candidate and Lebanon Voice editor Harrison Thorp sought clarification since more than 900 had voted throughout the day and in absentee ballots.
After a moment of confusion, it was quickly verified the correct total was, in fact, 622-232, in favor of Bragg, making for an emotional roller-coaster for all concerned. In the two-year race for selectman, Chip Harlow, who earlier this month said he chose the two-year slot rather than the three because he had a better chance of winning, proved prescient as he easily bested those in a four-way race with 335 votes, followed by Bettie Harris-Howard (215), David White (132), Harrison Thorp (81) and write-in candidate Mary Patch (65). Meanwhile, in one of the other most anticipated voting blocks, a half dozen recreational marijuana prohibitions that were proposed all passed easily, thereby keeping any recreational cannabis cultivation, testing and retail sales off the table in town while the state formalizes its rules and regulations. In other voting, all the town department budgets, including Fire and EMS, highway, transfer station and town offices, passed easily, however the Fire and EMS' quest for a new ambulance was soundly defeated, 505-408.
Voters also approved money to fight the European Naiad, an invasive weed that threatens Milton Three Ponds; and money for bridges, which should help solidify the process toward replacement of the New Bridge Road Bridge by June 2020. In other voting, Rebecca Beal won a three-year school board seat in an uncontested race, while Stephanie Greenlaw, Jeri Basko, Sean Bright and Deborah Dorey Wilson won three-year terms on the budget committee. Voting started off slowly early Tuesday but by midafternoon the pace had picked up with voters passing a gauntlet of selectmen candidates en route to the polls. During the day Selectman Paul Nadeau could be seen busy delivering food to poll workers. He will welcome his new colleagues today at 4 p.m. at Town Offices. Full election results Referendum 1, Shall an ordinance entitled "Town of Lebanon Maine Ordinance Establishing a Moratorium on Retail Marijuana Establishments and Retail Marijuana Social Clubs" be enacted? Referendum 5, Shall an ordinance entitled "Ordinance Prohibiting Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturing Faciliies" be enacted? Referendum 6, Shall an ordinance entitled "Ordinance Prohibiting Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facilities" be enacted?
Referendum 7, Shall a revised ordinance entitled "Lot Size Ordinance 2017" be enacted? Referendum 8, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $6,600.00 to be used for the eradication of European Naiad? Referendum 9, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 to be used as a subsidy for the annual Lebanon Festival? Referendum 10, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1680.00 for the fire hydrants in South Lebanon per contract? Referendum 11, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate te sum of $451,930.00 for the operation, upkeep and purchase of equipment and supplies for the Emergency Services Department? The Emergency Services Department includes the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department, The Lebanon Fire and EMS Stations, and the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency. Referendum 12, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $75,000.00 to place in the Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of purchasing equipment for the Emergency Services Department? The Emergency Services Department includes the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department, The Lebanon Fire and EMS Stations, and the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency. Referendum 13, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed $55,000.00 per year for a four (4) year lease / purchase for one (1) Lifeline Superliner Ambulance and emergency equipment accessories with a total price of $299,323.00? (a $100,000.00 down payment approved from Emergency Services Department Capital Reserve Fund). Referendum 14, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $57,262.00 to cover the cost of Emergency Dispatching for the Emergency Services Department and radio tower rental? Referendum 15, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $687,565.00 for operation of the Highway Department? Referendum 16, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $386,106.00 for the operation of the Lebanon Transfer Station? Referendum 17, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of paving Town owned public roads? The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year into the next and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted. Referendum 18, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $75,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of Highway Equipment? The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year into the next and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted. Referendum 19, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve fund for necessary bridge repairs and replacements of Town owned bridges? The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year into the next and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted. Referendum 20, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,198.00 to fund the No Spray Contact with Central Maine Power? Referendum 21, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Selectmen $12.00 per hour plus expenses? Referendum 22, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Road Commissioner $32,000.00 salary plus expenses? Referendum 24, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $21,730.00 for the operation of the Animal Control Officer and expenses? Referendum 25, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $47,628.00 for the combined department budgets of Code Enforcement Officer / Health Officer / 911 Director including expenses? Referendum 26, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of contributing toward large scale repairs of municipal buildings or grounds totaling $10,000.00 or more? The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year into the next and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted. Referendum 27, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $48,000.00 for legal fees? Referendum 28, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 for the contingency fund? Referendum 30, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $18,100.00 for General Assistance for residents in need? Referendum 31, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000.00 for the updating of tax maps? Referendum 32, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,764.00 to support the following relief agencies according to the breakdown below? YES 729 No 199 Blank 20 Referendum 33, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,184.00 for the operation of the Planning Board and for dues to the Southern Maine Regional Planning and Development Connission? Referendum 34, Shall the Town of Lebanon raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the operation of the Conservation Commission? Referendum 35, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the operation of the Appeals Board? Referendum 37, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $18,385.00 for the operation of the Martha Sawyer Community Library? Referendum 39, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 for a one time donation to the Lebanon Historical Society to be used for the 250th Anniversary Celebration? Referendum 45, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to appropriate all of the monies received from the State for snowmobile registrations to the Lebanon Trail Rides Club for the maintenance of their system or network of snowmobile trails on the condition that those trails are open in snow season to the public for outdoor recreation purposes at no charge, and to authorize the municipal officers to enter into agreement with the Club under such terms and conditions as he municipal officers may deem advisable for that purpose? Referendum 46, Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to place any unexpended funds from the prior year into the unassigned, restricted fund balance?
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