NEW SHARON — The town of New Sharon held its annual town meeting on Saturday, March 2, at Cape Cod Hill School, which included 29 articles and the swearing-in of new town officers including selectperson, road commissioner, water district trustee and Regional School Unit 9 representative.

According to Town Clerk Pamela Adams, 206 voters took part in election at the Town Office on Friday, March 1.

Kathleen Reis took the seat for Select Board, defeating Dennis McCourt in a vote of 101 to 92. Reis will be replacing Travis Pond, who has served on the Select Board for nine years.

Mercy Hanson was elected to a five-year term as water district trustee with 29 write-in votes, John Edward Pond was elected to a three-year term as road commissioner with 186 votes, and Gerald A. Provencher Jr. will join the RSU 9 board of directors with 177 votes. Provencher will be replacing Judith “Libby” Kaut, who chose not to run for another term.

The town warrant included 29 articles and former state Sen. Tom Saviello served as moderator. Pond, along with Select Board members Paula Nason and Kevin Libby, were in attendance.

Adams announced the winners of the election as part of Article 2, and followed with a moment of silence for those in the community who passed away in the last year. “We lost 19 people this year in New Sharon,” Adams said.

All articles passed, including some with amendments.

McCourt raised questions on Article Four, specifically questioning the amount of $5,000 that was allocated to the line titled “Assistance to the Board.”

According to the Select Board members, the funds are used for maintaining the town website and Facebook page, putting together a town report, and posting the minutes from the Select Board meetings.

According to Pond, former Select Board member Lorna Nichols has taken the position at a heavily discounted rate and contracting an IT position outside of the town would have been significantly more expensive. He also elaborated that the funds were donated to the town.

During discussion for Article 10, which was in regards to the funds for Jim Ditzler Memorial Library, Pond recognized librarian Diana Oliver, who just retired after 23 years of service to the community.

Article 17, which was originally written as “Shall the Town set the date of 30 days from mailing after which interest shall be charged at the rate of 8% per year, or part thereof, on taxes unpaid after that date,” was amended to 60 days and the interest rate was set at 4%.

Article 21 was amended to correct the year to 2024.

Article 25, which would authorize the Board of Selectpersons to enter into a multi-year franchise agreement with internet and cable television provider Spectrum/Charter at no cost, was amended and heavily discussed among the town and Select Board.

“Out of my nine years of public service,” Pond stated, “I never had a company come and ask if they could dump, you know, a few $100,000 at no cost to us.”

Pond stated the article, as originally written, was simply to grant the Select Board the authority to move forward with the agreement. Spectrum/Charter had reached out to the Select Board to draw up the agreement, with the Select Board requesting free internet for the town office. Spectrum/Charter stated they could not honor that request as part of the agreement.

“If this passes, I would encourage the board to still ask for free internet or refuse the agreement,” Pond stated at the meeting.

The article was amended to include a special town meeting after several audience members voiced their concerns over the lack of information about the nature of the agreement and skepticism over a multiyear agreement having no cost.

Many of those in attendance were uneasy with a multiyear commitment without more information shared with the general public. The amended article passed 39 to 16.

The articles as originally written can be found on the New Sharon website. For more information or questions, call the Town Office at [207] 778-4046.