Woolwich voters passed a $1.6 million budget in under two hours  at their annual town meeting Saturday and went along with the select board’s recommendation to discontinue a one-lane bridge spanning Nequasset Brook. its property owners $75,000 from the undesignated fund balance.

Most of the 39 articles passed with little or no discussion. Fewer than 100 voters turned out at Woolwich Central School on Nequasset Road.

“We hope to get the town out from under it,” said Select Board Chairman David King Sr. of the bridge built in 1964 and posted at 12 tons for over 30 years. The bridge off George Wright Road leads to a rental home and property owned by Matt and Amy Richard. The town will pay them $75,000 from the undesignated fund balance.

The alternatives were to begin raising money to replace it at a cost estimated up to $600,000, or leave it as is. The state is unwilling to help the town with the replacement cost, said Selectman Jason Shaw.

Several voters, including Joan Jordan, felt $75,000 wasn’t enough money to pay the Richards in damages.

King explained it was based on a forensic audit the board sought. He said the board discussed deeding an abutting piece of town-owned property over to the Richards as part of the settlement but no decision had been made.

Asked if he felt the $75,000 payment was a fair offer, Matt Richard responded he just wanted the issue put to rest. He added, if voters chose to discontinue the bridge, he planned to sell the property.

When moderator John Chapman called for a voice vote, discontinuing the road and bridge passed overwhelmingly.<

Voters raised $54,344 for the Patten Free Library, approved using up to $14,000 in Comcast franchise fees to buy an LED town informational sign, and approved spending up $8,000 to buy the fire department a washing machine.

Also approved were cost of living raises of up to 2 percent for the town administrator, town clerk and tax collector. Voters raised $7,000 to establish a reserve account for the possible $48,327 purchase of the solar array system from ReVision Energy/GreenVolt LLC in year seven of the contract. They passed a $192,868 article for curbside trash and recycling collection and raised $19,087 for donations to local non-profit agencies.

Both the $84,750 fire department and $44,000 EMS budgets passed without discussion. Voters raised $588,325 for town roads and bridges including $100,000 for paving and $421,825 for snow removal. 

Townspeople authorized selectmen to use up to $50,000 from the undesignated fund balance to cover overdrafts for emergency services due to storms or other natural disaster. Raymond Robson was reappointed fish commissioner for another five-year term. 

Attendance has dropped three years in a row. Last year, 105 voters turned out. In 2016, when town meeting returned from a weeknight to Saturday morning, 220 attended, according to King.