WELD — Voters at Saturday’s annual town meeting approved raises for several officers.

The treasurer and transfer station attendant were given salary increases of 50 cents per hour, although none was asked for in the warrant.

Planning Board member Nancy Stowell suggested removing the $200 annual stipend for members, rather than increasing it to $240, but Neil Stinneford thought that would be a mistake and voters agreed.

The animal control officer and selectmen were given a $2 per hour raise, and the ballot clerk a $2.50 per hour increase. The fire chief’s annual stipend was raised by $200 to $1,200 per year, while voters approved a new $800 annual stipend for the assistant fire chief.

Voters approved $96,000 for a new plow truck and $70,000 to equip it.

Truck Committee member Doug Voter said the panel was hoping to go from a single axle with a seven-yard dump to a double axle wheeler with a 12-yard dump. Two roads require refills with the seven-yard truck.

Additionally, the new truck would be safer for drivers and easier on spring roads. 

Voters approved spending $30,000 from the equipment fund and borrowing the remaining $136,000. An additional $30,000, raised earlier in the day for the equipment fund will go toward the loan, once taxes start coming in this fall.

A highlight of the meeting was voters naming Henry Braun as Weld’s first poet laureate. Braun passed away in October 2014. He and his family first came to Weld in 1962 and moved here permanently in 1989. Braun was active in the town.

A standing ovation was given after his history in Weld, provided by his wife, Joan, was read.

Town Clerk Carol Cochran announced Thomas Skolfield was elected selectman Friday with 58 votes to Margot Joly’s 40. The term is for three years.

Joseph Demers was elected selectman with 84 votes, replacing Michael Pratt who stepped down for health reasons.

Road Commissioner Kelly Hutchinson was re-elected with 84 votes; Ernestine Hutchinson accepted a five-year position on the Planning Board.