Only 35 Dresden voters attended the town's shortest regular town meeting in memory June 16. Meeting at Pownalborough Hall, residents wrapped up the session in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and passed all articles.

The total approved budget is $696,251, a $52,950 decrease from last year.

Voters approved accepting $167,250 from the Maine Legislature, including $85,000 in state revenue sharing, $39,000 in MDOT Block Grants, and $29,000 for Homestead Reimbursement.

As in many Maine towns, the biggest chunk of the taxpayers' dollar outside school expenses in Dresden called is for road maintenance. Voters approved $276,900 for road maintenance and additional funds for a three-year contract for winter road maintenance.

Both the selectmen and the budget review committee had recommended an affirmative vote for the three-year contract totaling $420,000. The total amounts to a projected savings of $138,500 over the previous three-year contract, when the cost of sand and salt is considered, according to selectmen.

Other expenditures include town officials' salaries totaling $49,865, which represents a freeze from the current year.

In a change from previous years, the town decided to raise and appropriate $8,000 to pay Richmond for compensation for its code enforcement officer and licensed plumbing inspector services.

An article on fire protection calling for $28,000 for operation of the fire department amounts to an $8,000 increase due to operating costs, which the town voted to accept.

Another article on fire protection sought $12,500 for the purchase of equipment, which represents an increase of $2,500. An article concerning the sum of $12,500 to reimburse working volunteer fire fighters for clothing, gas and related expenses they incur while participating in the department's operation also passed.

For the transfer station, the town decided on a requested $14,000 for tipping fees and $8,500 for the transfer station attendant's compensation plus $16,500 for the recycling attendant's total, as well as $6,000 for the operating of the recycling center and transfer station, a $500 increase.

Voters decided to exceed $12,000 for capital improvements, including $5,000 for painting the town office, $5,000 for paving and base pad for the newspaper/magazine bin, and $2,000 for various recycling center repairs. The total represents a $5,500 increase.

RSU 2 budget/election results

By a margin of 174 to 99, the RSU 2 budget passed as a validation of the previous local budget hearing on June 12.

At the June 12 hearing 70 people attended a session at which voters favored the budget 45 to 8. The new budget totals $125,289 less than the current budget.

Dresden voters on June 12 re-elected Chairman Phil Johnston as first selectman with 227 votes out of 295 voting that day.

Kim Rzasa retained the town clerk position and Sherry Moody won the town treasurer position. Ann Pierce won the position of town property tax collector with 166 votes to 117 for Sherry Moody and 42 for Pangiotis Konstantaras. Daphne White had been serving in that position until the election.

Both William Matthews and Michael Terrell held their seats on the RSU 2 School Board. Matthews received 241 votes out of a possible 295 and Terrell received 239.