Nearly 2,000 Dexter residents cast ballots

DEXTER — The results from the Nov. 5 election were formally certified by the Dexter Town Council during a Nov. 14 meeting, as residents cast ballots in national, state, and local elections. Nearly 2,000 citizens, 1,997, voted for president in Dexter.

Town Clerk Susan Page said Dexter had 2,867 registered voters with another 152 being added on Nov. 5. The election had a turnout of 68 percent, which would be around 86 percent if inactive voters were excluded.

Page said 648 absentee ballots were sent out and all but four were returned.

“That election went so smoothly and so well,” Council Chair Marcia Delaware said. She said she had never seen such a long line formed before the polls opened in the morning.

Town Manager Trampas King thanked all the election staff and volunteers. He said he was impressed by everyone’s patience, even when the wait to vote took around 20-25 minutes for some.

King welcomed Chuck Ellms back to the council after a term off as Adam Briggs was also reelected with these two receiving the most votes of four candidates for a pair of 3-year terms.

The town manager had a plaque for outgoing Councilor Levi Ladd.

In other business, the council accepted an $87,185 grant from the State of Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands for the Dexter Rail Riders.

“They do a lot of work, the Rail Riders are a great group,” King said. He said the group built a $50,000 trail this year among the many other endeavors to the trails running through town.

“The Bureau of Parks and Lands was so impressed with these guys,” the town manager said. He said the grant does have a 10 percent match requirement, but this can consist of work carried out by the club.

The council accepted a combined approximate $5,434 in donations for the Christmas for Kids program. King said $3,000 is from the Plummer Memorial Foundation and the other near $2,434 is from the Dexter Rail Riders.

He said the program provides winter clothing for about 60 children and various organizations work with the town to provide these and Christmas gifts for the youngsters.

A safety grant was accepted by the council, $2,989 from the Maine Municipal Association for town hall cameras.

King said there are cameras currently in place but these would be replaced with “better cameras so you can watch the outside and the inside.”

Next month, instead of meeting on the second Thursday the council will instead meet Thursday, Dec. 19 due to a staffing conflict.