BETHEL — By a vote of 40-38, residents at the June 11 town meeting approved continuing 24/7 coverage by the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office for $673,865. It is $100,415 more than the current contract.

Ron Savage supported the service but questioned the rising cost. “It’s necessary, but where does it end? We’re paying our portion of county taxes,” he said. He also asked that Bethel be reimbursed when officers are called away from town.

Mike Everett agreed with Savage.

“If they have a call in Newry, they go to Newry,” Everett said. “Maybe we should talk to Newry about paying some of this because they are getting a better response time on our dime and so is Greenwood, so is everybody. Bethel is footing the bill for better service for the towns around us.”

Select Board Chair Michelle Cole announced a meeting with the Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright and Administrator Zane Loper on June 18 to review the budget in detail.

Town Manager Sharon Jackson noted that all participating towns will now pay the same: $168,466 per deputy. “Our coverage ends July 1 if this isn’t approved,” she said.

Amy Hanscom disputed the urgency. She said Oxford County is obligated to cover Bethel, saying it’s part of the taxes. “I represent Bethel Rescue. I get frustrated when we are waiting 30-plus minutes for an officer. This has been being discussed for three, four, or five years,” Hanscom said.

Town to continue paying waste fees

A 40-31 vote approved continued payment of commercial dumpster fees and optional curbside pickup. In 2024, the cost was $302,760. Bethel will be responsible for 54% and will invoice Newry and Hanover for the remainder.

Business owner Everett supported the funding.

“I don’t feel the town should penalize us for using a service to pay,” Everett said. “I pay $12,000 a year in taxes as a business. I feel like you’re penalizing the good businesses in this town and the senior citizens. I am in favor of the town paying for this.”

Jackson said the approval adds 47 cents to the tax rate.

Everett asked if the transfer station could handle added waste if dumpster service were eliminated.

Jackson said no, but that businesses likely would keep their dumpsters and would not use the transfer station.

Resident Carlie Casey objected to subsidizing construction waste. “Other towns have contractors cover this.”

Savage, a contractor, replied that projects over $25,000 already require private dumpsters.<

“This will put a burden on the businesses,” he said. “The businesses do pay taxes. The 80-year-old lady who walks her trash out to the street — she will have to pay for the weight of her trash. We’ve never done it that way.”

New Select Board member Andrew Whitney said while open to changes in the future, eliminating town funding now could drive more waste to the transfer station.

Other Appropriations and Actions

• Ambulance funding: Article 17 passed to raise stipends and hourly wages. “We need to have confidence in our leaders,” said Darren Tripp.
He questioned the delay in hiring a paid rescue chief, despite funds being approved at last year’s town meeting. “Everything he (Hanscom) has done he’s done correctly … he knows what he’s doing. Just like (Fire Chief) Mike Jodrey. We need to have confidence in these leaders.”

Cole responded that code changes are still pending. Hanscom pressed further, saying the delay was unwarranted.

“It went through the budget committee as a wage, I don’t understand why we never used those wages as they were appropriated,” Hanscom said.

• $100K truck scale: Approved unanimously for the Tri-Town Transfer Station.

• Town Office upgrades: $125,000 approved for basement moisture control and $120,000 for roof and clapboard repairs to the Cole Building.

• Planning Board stipends: A $4,200 budget was approved, offering members $25 per meeting (up to 24/year). Travis Wojcik opposed the stipends; his amendment failed. Former member Sue Dunn supported the measure. “I served six years. This money is well-deserved.”

• Budget Committee restructuring: Membership will shrink from 12 to nine to streamline decisions. Cole noted this may impact term lengths and staggering of terms.

• Tax reduction: Voters approved allocating $400,000 from $5.5 million in undesignated funds to offset 2026 taxes.

• Interlocal agreement: Article 6, the tri-town transfer station agreement, passed.