LIMINGTON – The annual town meeting has long been considered democracy in one of its purest forms.

While many Maine municipalities have switched to referendum voting, others will gather in the coming months to discuss their budgets line by line.

Additional Photos

Max Brandt, left, makes sure his vote is seen by the moderator as he votes on one of many issues on the agenda with the rest of the residents attending the Limington Town Meeting, including Cory Abbott, front, and George Bouchard, right. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Limington was one of the first towns to hold its meeting this year, voting by show of hands Saturday on everything from road repairs to funding rescue operations.

“A show-of-hands count and the majority decides. It’s perfect,” said James Bickford, a former selectman and resident for over 25 years. “I just wish there was more participation.”

Only 40 of the town’s approximately 4,000 residents showed up for the meeting.

Bruce Rozett, who was elected to the Board of Selectmen Friday, said the low turnout was probably because there were no “big-ticket items” proposed in this year’s budget.

“There is little to come out for,” he said. “But you can’t complain if you don’t participate.”

“It’s an outlet for people to come and address their concerns,” said 80-year-old Willard Boothby, a lifelong Limington resident. “They’re spending our money.”

Joe Colby, Youth League president, questioned the budget committee’s decision to cut a total of $4,500 from allocations to the youth recreation organization. Last year, the Youth League received $12,000 from the town.

“I’m trying to understand, when it was 10 percent” that committees were asked to cut from their budgets, why the Youth League received a deeper budget cut, Colby said.

Aside from funds remaining from last year’s budget, the Youth League had $31,000 in a savings account. Betsy Braley, vice president of the youth softball league, said that those savings were for field improvements once the Youth League received the deed to the land.

“We are planning a budget with so many unknowns,” Selectman Charlie Huntress said. “Anybody who had any money sitting around, we looked at it.”

The $1.1 million budget, which Huntress described as “bare bones,” ultimately passed in full. The town, which is part of MSAD 6, will not learn the impact of the school budget until later this spring, Rozett said.

Staff Writer Emma Bouthillette can be contacted at 791-6325 or at:

ebouthillette@pressherald.com