NEW VINEYARD — Two weeks after the town clerk and deputy clerk resigned, more than 100 residents gathered for the annual town meeting March 28 to elect a new selectman and weigh in on town operations.
Jeff Allen, chairman of the New Vineyard Board of Selectmen, had said earlier he did not plan to run for the seat he had held for nearly 12 years. Residents heard from two candidates nominated from the floor — Frank Forster and Edward Adams — before electing Adams to a three‑year term 65-36.
Adams said he wanted to prioritize accountability and fair treatment on issues such as awarding bids. He said the landfill and road maintenance were among the most pressing concerns facing the town.
Residents also voted to reelect two incumbent members of the Planning Board to two‑year terms. Chip Hinds and Kathy Hinds were each challenged by Patti Knapp, a board alternate. The vote totals were 61-36 for Chip Hinds and 49-36 for Kathy Hinds.
Chip and Kathy Hinds, who are married, both said the board had made progress over the past year.
“As a team, we’ve worked very well together,” Kathy Hinds said of the board. “We’ve put out a lot of fires along the way and, I think, built bridges with some of the community.”
Former Town Clerk Michelle Beedy said in a letter to the Daily Bulldog that issues with the Planning Board prompted her resignation March 13.
Planning Board Chair Shannon Sillanpaa referenced the strain in the board’s annual report. “Despite the town clerk’s efforts to hinder the permit process,” she wrote, “we were able to review most applications within a month of being submitted.”
Beedy disputed that characterization in her letter, calling it “totally inaccurate.”
Beedy’s and Deputy Clerk Candid Hamel’s resignations left New Vineyard temporarily unable to collect or spend money because the clerks also served as the town’s tax collectors and treasurers.
Within about a week, however, the Board of Selectmen had secured Maria Johnson to serve as interim town clerk. For now, the Town Office is expected to be open Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Selectmen hope to restore the ability to issue license plates by early April, allowing residents to register new vehicles.
Looking ahead, selectmen have discussed hiring two part‑time employees to meet the town’s administrative needs.
Residents also reelected Road Commissioner Alex Sillanpaa to a six‑month term running from May to October, an uncontested vote.
The town’s budget articles all passed as recommended, approving a $762,235 budget for municipal operations — a $50,156 increase over the previous year, or about 7.05 percent.
Transfer station costs rose by more than $10,000, driven largely by state‑required testing of the burn pile’s ashes, for which selectmen had earmarked $5,000. The burn pile will continue to accept brush, but it will no longer take building debris.
Two ordinance changes related to the dump also passed. One article simply updated the hours of operation, shifting from Saturdays and Sundays to Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The other article created a system of purchasable permits for residents who want to dispose of waste at the dump.
Under the approved amendment, the permit and its accompanying sticker can be obtained from the Town Office for $50, giving residents access to the dump for the fiscal year.
According to the explanation in the town report and comments made at the meeting, the changes stem from rising costs at the transfer station and declining revenue from sources such as scrap metal sales.
Residents also supported three other ordinance changes, all tied to the Planning Board’s building permit process.
The first adds a setback requirement, limiting structures to no closer than 10 feet from any lot line.
The second eliminates an exemption from the permitting process for building alterations less than 200 square feet, with the accompanying explanation noting that such alterations can affect the town’s property assessments.
The third change drew more discussion. The Planning Board proposed having building permits reviewed by the town’s code enforcement officer rather than the full board as a way to streamline the process. The amendment includes exceptions for Shoreland Zoning and Site Plan reviews, which would continue to require full board review.
Supporters of the change noted that the town’s CEO, John Arnold, works for eight other nearby towns and is able to issue permits in seven of them. They also pointed out that the town’s Board of Appeals would still be able to review decisions.
Those opposed to the change said they worried about the consequences of shifting authority from the board to the CEO.
Planning Board member Sean Faris said he had qualms about the proposal, despite describing the current CEO as a very decent person.
“I think it’s very dangerous to put all that power in the hands of one person,” Faris said.
Others countered that the ordinance could always be changed back at a later date.
Moderator Paul Mills called for a counted hand vote, and the amendment passed 36-19.
The meeting was taped by Mt. Blue Community Access TV and can be viewed online.
