All articles on the Dresden town warrant passed on Saturday morning, June 12 at the town meeting. Richard Ross served as moderator and Leah Bickford deputy moderator. Approximately 40 residents attended the hour and a half meeting in the fire station.

Residents voted to accept $167,218 from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan of 2021. In calling for the vote, Ross said “all those in favor of receiving money?” to the laughter of the crowd.

Significant discussion was had on a new $5,000 payment to Richmond that would allow citizens of Dresden to deliver accepted waste to the Richmond transfer station. Dresden citizens would also be subject to fees for various materials delivered to the transfer station. Third Selectman Allan Moeller Sr. explained that if they did not make the payment, Dresden citizens would not be able to use the Richmond transfer station, even if they paid an individual fee. The article still passed but was the closest vote, with 26 in favor and 11 opposed.

Article 6, which covered ambulance, fire and other protection services, was amended down to $138,440 due to several thousand dollars carried over from 2020 and that is not needed this year. Voters also amended Article 15, Charitable Contributions Accounts, to remove $2,300 in “non-appropriated funds”; all other donations were kept as written.

Several questions were asked about the amount proposed to take from surplus to a Select Board Contingency Account. The $20,000 proposed was four times that of last year’s request. Moeller said the auditors recommended that more than last year be put in contingency. Town Administrator Michael Faass said there is about $790,000 in the surplus account.

Steve Lilly was again chosen for Fire Inspector and Fire Chief. Mike Nylan was appointed Assistant Fire Chief.

Voters approved placing franchise fees from Spectrum into a Town Recreation Fund. There were several questions about whether or not those funds could be used to help improve and provide internet service. Former state representative Jeff Pierce explained that the use of these fees is regulated by the Legislature and towns cannot use the funds for other purposes. Moeller said  there will be another round of ConnectME grants in the fall that the town may be able to seek to expand internet access. He cited Westport Island’s recent grant of over $200,000.

The overall town appropriations requested was $1,089,238, up $34,703 over last year’s budget. That number will be slightly lower when final totals are calculated given the reduction by voters on two articles. 

In the secret ballot election June 8, First Selectman John Rzasa was re-elected; he ran unopposed; and Kathryn Marseglia was chosen over Scott Silverman, 127-70, for a seat on the school board.

Dresden rejected the school budget in a secret ballot vote, 59-145. Selectmen had opposed the budget and advertised against it through flyers and on the town website. They warned that taxes might increase by 8.8% if the budget was passed. The board has also voted to reactivate the committee to withdraw from the RSU.