It took Dresden residents about 75 minutes on June 13 to approve 53 articles on the annual town meeting warrant. Fifty-three of the 1,336 registered voters disposed of the 53 articles with little or no debate during the meeting held at Pownalborough Hall.

The warrant included $733,479 in spending for the next fiscal year. The municipal budget reflects a $28,754 or 3.8 percent increase. The selectmen and budget review committee agreed on all but one article presented to voters.

The selectmen recommended spending $355.354 for the highway account. The amount is a 12.5 percent increase. The selectmen proposed spending $20,000 for town road maintenance and $4,000 more for paving. The selectmen also plan on major road improvement projects in the next fiscal year on Blinn Hill, Calls Hill and Common roads. The board also plans on performing shoulder, ditching and maintenance work along Orchard Hill Road.

The budget review committee recommended spending the same amount as last year: $310,000. The committee told residents that additional funds weren’t necessary due to surplus in several accounts. The selectmen disagreed. Third Selectman Allan Moeller explained the planned road work would rapidly exhaust the account.

“We need to keep enough money in the account so that in future years we don’t have to request a larger sum,” Moeller said.

Voters overwhelming supported the selectmen’s recommendation to spend $355,354 for the highway account.

The article receiving the most debate was the proposed boat ramp at the base of Dresden’s side of the Maine Kennebec River Bridge. The article requested $22,000 for permit fees and legal expenses. 

One resident asked why the town requested money before a site walk and public hearing were held. Planning Board Chairman and State Rep. Jeff Pierce explained that if the town waited, it would require a special town meeting.

“There is a tentative agreement put forth to do this project at no additional cost (other) than the $22,000 for fees and legal costs,” Pierce said. “If the planning board or residents at the public hearing vote against the proposal then the money would remain in surplus.”

Residents overwhelming approved the article. The planning board held a site review on June 14. There is also a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on June 16 in Pownalborough Hall. Pierce promised to provide all the project’s details at those meetings.

“Today is about funding for the permitting fees. We can go into all the other details, but the town meeting would take four hours,” he said.

If residents approve the project, a boat ramp would be built at the old bridge site. According to Pierce, Reed & Reed Construction has volunteered to build the ramp.

“There is one condition,” Pierce said. “It all has to be done by mid-August. So we need to get moving if we want to build the ramp at no cost to the town.”

Pierce said if the project is approved, the application undergoes a 20-day review period. So Reed & Reed wouldn’t be able to begin construction until mid-July. The $22,000 would be split between the Department of Environmental Protection and legal fees. $20,000 is for wetland compensation and $2,000 is for legal expenses, according to Pierce.

The selectmen said the only $22,000 would be the town’s only cost. The Department of Inland, Fisheries and Wildlife has promised to maintain the facility, according to the board of selectmen.

Residents also approved a change in the animal control office position. Voters authorized the selectmen to enter into an animal control services agreement with the town of Richmond. Residents raised and appropriated $3,500 for the service.

Voters also decided several other issues regarding municipal government. Residents appropriated $3,000 to reimburse the Gardiner Ambulance Service for the past year’s fees. Residents approved a 2 percent raise for recycling center employees, and $3,450 for donations to local nonprofits.

The town received 13 nonprofit requests totaling $9,099. The selectmen and budget review committee recommended funding nine of the requests. Nonprofits receiving a donation were American Red Cross, $250; Coastal Transportation, $100; Elmhurst, $300; Maine General Health, $200; Midcoast Community Action, $600; New Hope for Women, $500; Richmond Food Pantry, $500; Spectrum Generations, $600; and Life Flight Foundation, $400.

Four nonprofits did not receive a donation: Healthy Kids, Lincoln County Television, Lincoln County Dental and Maine Public Broadcasting.

Resident Susan Pond asked why Lincoln Dental County didn’t receive the requested $1,500 donation. No selectman or budget review committee member responded.

The residents also approved a new floodplain management ordinance. Voters also approved an updated comprehensive plan. The previous plan was last updated in 1991.