TEMPLE — Road problems were on voters’ minds at Monday night’s annual town meeting.

The 50-plus residents in attendance approved $26,000 for the paving account, but not without some discussion of the town’s road conditions. Resident Steve Brackett asked if more money could be raised so more bituminous pavement could be put on the roads.

Selectman Austin Foss said there are no plans to do that this year. “There’s not enough money in the account to do it,” he said.

“We’re going to need more than just hot top to fix the roads,” Selectman Michelle Clark said.

Budget Committee member Jo Josephson said the committee voted to flat fund roads this year because the amount raised last year was increased. However, the town can’t afford to flat fund it forever, she said, and more work is needed on the roads than just patching rough spots.

“We, as members of the town, should start thinking about raising more money to put into the reserve account,” resident John Stewart said. “We’re not keeping up.”

An article to raise and appropriate $3,500 for a sand and salt shed also generated some questions. One resident asked when the shed would get built.

“When we have the money to build one,” Clark said.

Josephson noted that at the budget meeting, committee members and selectmen discussed structures that were less expensive than proposed by the state. “We may get it sooner rather than later,” she said.

Residents approved the article, and with the funds, there is now $35,500 in the account.

Voters also approved $23,600 for town salaries; $30,000 to offset a portion of the shortfall from the previous two years; $25,000 for waste collection; $5,000 for maintenance of town-owned buildings; $14,000 for waste disposal; $65,000 for the town roads and bridges account; $114,000 for the snow plowing contract; $40,000 for winter sand and salt; $25,000 for the road construction reserve account; and $20,000 for the Fire Department.

It was noted there is $56,000 in the road construction reserve account. Stewart wanted to raise more for it, but selectmen informed him that the amount in the article could only be lowered.

 Kevin White was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen with 35 votes to challenger Belinda Mallett-Barden’s 17.

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