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Welcome to a special edition of the Western Maine Monitor newsletter.
Weld voters approved funding for a new firehouse Saturday during the annual town meeting. Taxpayers' share of the project will be about $500,000, with a majority of the $2 million construction cost covered by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant.
Voters in West Paris also showed support for their Fire Department by approving the purchase of a new utility rescue "mini" pumper, which is about half the size of a regular fire truck at half the cost. It's much easier to learn how to use than a regular fire truck and easier to spray water, which is making this style of truck more and more popular in rural departments, according to Ed Pennell, a member of the West Paris Fire Department.
We'll have more coverage of annual town meetings this week and in the coming weeks.
To see when your town is meeting, go to: 2026 Annual Town Meetings: Franklin, Oxford, Somerset and Washington counties |
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West Paris voters approve funding for ‘mini’ fire truck at annual town meeting
Residents at Saturday’s annual town meeting approved all 44 warrant articles, including more than $17,000 for the former Agnes Gray Elementary School building, which the town recently purchased from the Oxford Hills School District after the structure was closed in 2024 because repairs were deemed too costly.
The $17,311 appropriation covers upkeep of the building and mowing the grounds, but it does not include decisions about the building’s future use.
“It’s going to be a while before we figure out what we’re going to do with that building,” West Paris Town Manager Joy Downing told residents during the meeting at Ring-McKeen American Legion Post 151 at 6 Church St. |
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Weld residents vote to take next steps toward new firehouse
Residents at Saturday’s annual town meeting voted to take the next steps toward building a new firehouse and to use surplus funds to reduce taxes, while also increasing appropriations for several accounts.
More than 70 people, including families with young children, gathered at Town Hall, with more than 60 voting on most articles. The state estimates Weld’s population at 423.
Three articles related to a new firehouse generated lively discussion.
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Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can reach Monitor Local editor Judy Meyer directly via email: judy@themainemonitor.org.
The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support. |
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