WINDHAM – About 60 Windham residents overwhelmingly approved the $14,346,348 municipal budget during annual town meeting Saturday, June 15.

The first order of business was voting for and electing former state Sen. Bill Diamond to act as moderator. Over the next few minutes, the 50 or so attendees were led in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for Windham residents past and present who served and died in military service.

A big topic of discussion during the meeting was the recent decision by the Town Council to eliminate $17,000 worth of staffing at the skate park.

“No one is talking about eliminating funding to the skate park,” said Councilor Peter Anania. “We have money budgeted for the park, we are only talking about not having an attendant. We believe kids can police themselves.”

Windham resident Wendy Loring asked the council what would happen if the kids could not police themselves and shared her concerns about kids getting into trouble there.

Anania assured her an attendant could be added in the future if necessary.

“So something negative has to happen for us to do something,” said Loring. “I just can’t believe we are taking this money from Parks and Recreation.”

Loring was also not pleased with the idea of putting about $200,000 into the Donnabeth Lippman Park in North Windham. The money would help establish parking and a road into the 123-acre parcel.

“I heard the Windham Land Trust offered to give money for that project and was turned down,” said Loring. “What are we spending that much money on?”

Council Chairman Matthew Noel replied: “Lippman Park went through many, many discussions before deciding on a budget…This is the start of the execution of this plan; this is Phase 1 and the budget of Phase 1 only. This budget is well documented and available for the public to scrutinize.”

Outlook Cove Road resident John Bolduc was excited about the park project.

“I think there is a distinct lack of space to congregate in Windham,” said Bolduc. “I think it’s important to have a place for people to be together and hang out.”

The seven warrant articles were approved in a relatively lengthy 42 minutes, which is three times longer than it took residents to approve the budget last year.