Honoring town clerk Michele Bukoveckas for 10 years of service to Sebago followed a quick approval of the municipal budget at the annual town meeting Saturday.

Earlier in the meeting, residents quickly and with little discussion passed a more than $1.7 million municipal budget. Developing plans for a new public safety building, interest rates on late property taxes and the Sebago Historical Society’s building on Convene Road drew the most discussion during the meeting.

“We have an incredible opportunity to celebrate,” Town Manager Robert Nicholson said, interrupting the agenda near the end of the meeting to announce Bukoveckas’ 10-year anniversary as town clerk.

George Tinkham, who was on the board of selectmen when Bukovekas was hired, made jokes and paid tribute to Bukoveckas as she opened cards and gifts. Bukoveckas has taken up golfing since she’s worked in the town, Tinkham said. Though most people holler fore, “she hollers eight,” he joked, saying that she is twice as loud.

“I hope I give you the service you all deserve and I hope to do it for many more years,” said Bukoveckas while admitting her surprise at the accolades.

The largest items on the budget were more than $264,000 for administration, more than $329,000 for the capital investment program and almost $282,000 for roads.

Several North Sebago residents requested that the town build a fire hydrant and hang flags in their neighborhood. Nicholson said there were 14 projected fire hydrants in the town and one would be put in by the end of the summer in North Sebago.

There was some discussion about putting aside $5,000 to plan for a new public safety building. “Is it wise to set money aside for a project we might not do?” asked Greg Smith.

Last year town residents authorized $40,000 in spending to hire an architectural design and engineering firm to develop site, budget, schedule and building design options. Smith Reuter Lull Architects of Lewiston submitted a design for a $2.4 million station to the public safety building committee and the board of selectmen.

The board and the committee rejected the proposal as too costly and instructed the architects to explore other options.

Nicholson explained that the $5,000 in the proposed budget would pay for further public safety building design and permitting. Two public workshops are planned for August and October with the hope to present a plan to the voters at the June 2009 town meeting. The article passed.

Tinkham made a motion to change the interest rate collected on late property taxes from 11 percent to 10 percent. Nicholson said the town typically sets the interest rate at the highest level the state allows, which is 11 percent this year.

“Perhaps we should ask ourselves why we are charging the highest interest possible of people struggling to pay their taxes,” said resident Thomas Ruppert. Nicholson said the interest goes to costs associated with processing unpaid taxes as well as toward reducing future taxes. The motion to change the interest rate to 10 percent passed.

Near the end of the meeting, president of the historical society Ann Burns requested to withdraw Article 18 from the warrant, which asked the town to authorize construction of an addition to the Sebago historical society display barn to be paid for by the historical society. On Monday after the meeting, Burns said she withdrew the article because it entailed “a more expensive proposal than our original.”

Donelle Allen, member of the historical society, stood up to encourage the town to repair the current building, which is owned by the town.

“There’s a huge gaping hole where the chimney fell away from the building,” Allen said. Nicholson said he and the board understood that the town needs to work on this.

After Sebago residents approved a budget of more than $1.7 million at the annual town meeting Saturday, Town Clerk Michele Bukoveckas was honored for her 10 years of service. George Tinkham, a former selectman,