Waterford voters approve $1.9 million budget at annual Town Meeting

Mar. 7—WATERFORD — Voters approved a $1.9 million municipal budget during Saturday morning's Town Meeting, according to Chairman Randy Lessard.

Lessard said the annual meeting, held at the town's fire station on Valley Road, went off without a hitch and that all 65 warrant articles passed.

He said that prior to the meeting Jamie Toohey was sworn in as a new selectmen, replacing John Bell, who is retiring after three terms.

Toohey defeated Frank Damon IV by a 211-152 vote on Friday.

Lessard added that Bell was given a "standing ovation by everyone in attendance."

"I said a few words about him before the meeting," Lessard said. "He's a fabulous person and was really, really, really good at his job."

The $1.9 million budget was about $80,000 less than the previous year's budget.

The largest decrease in the budget was a nearly $200,000 cut in the road improvements budget, while the largest increase was seen in the transfer station budget, which saw a $39,000 hike over the previous year.