ORLEANS — Veteran Selectman Robert Croteau survived a challenge for his seat on the board of selectmen Tuesday.  Mr. Croteau got 138 votes compared to 114 for Jeff Cota for a three-year term.

Selectman Larry Scarpa was elected to a two-year term on the board with 189 votes.

A lister’s position remains empty.

Voters approved town and highway budgets as requested.  The highway budget was $505,966, up from $400,763 in the current year.

The increase is for road resurfacing.

The selectmen’s budget of $318,395 was approved, down from $329,886 in the current year.

The town approved a 3 percent salary increase for elected officers.

The elected constable, Mr. Vezina, asked if he could expect repayment for personal funds spent for the sake of the town as seeing that he too is an elected official.  Mr. Croteau replied that since he does not have certification or training equal to that which is normally required of law enforcement personnel, the select board decided that re-imbursement for privately spent funds was not indicated.

As expected, the town captured significant time and attention as Mr. Croteau outlined and explained the various decisions that allowed for decreases in several budget line items.  For example, the town report was published in house, saving $3,000; the method which the town zoning officer is paid was changed from a flat fee of $7,000 to a base rate of $2,500 from the town.

The rest of payment for services will be coming from each permit issued by the zoning officer, explained Mr. Croteau.  Health care plan changes resulted in a decrease of health insurance costs.  After a double digit increase in the current health plan premium, the town shopped for a different plan that resulted in a savings to the town.  Many other line items, such as police protection, fire protection, and legal expenses were level funded.

The highway budget passed as proposed as well.  Again, Mr. Croteau conscientiously explained any increases and corresponding decreases in the proposal.  Equipment costs increased due to known maintenance issues with the backhoe.  The state of Vermont is requiring all towns to comply with a signage law that dictates road sign size as six inches in height.  Many four-inch signs will need to be changed out over the next two years.  The town gave road crew employees a $5,000 incentive to seek health insurance through other sources, which netted the town a decrease in health insurance costs for that group.

The largest increase in the highway budget occurred in the resurfacing or tarring of the state roads line item.  Although roughly $653,000 was spent in maintaining Route 16 last year, much of that money came from a stimulus grant.  There were four roads in the town highlighted as contenders for resurfacing in 2011, with the worst being Roaring Brook Road.  Investment in this road section has the potential of keeping a bad problem from becoming significantly worse, if the road is fixed in the 2011 construction season.  The amount requested for resurfacing was $175,000, with the possibility of additional funding from the state.

All of the appropriation articles passed, some with discussion.  Most were level funded or had minor increases in comparison with the previous year, with the exception of three items.

Robin Robitaille moved to appropriate to the Barton library and Jones Memorial Library $7,500 each; this was up by $500 for the Barton library, and $4,000 for Jones Memorial Library.  The Crystal Lake Preservation Association requested and received an increase of $4,000 over the past year’s appropriation to combat Eurasian Milfoil infestation in the lake.

The heftiest increase by far was the request to grant the Barton Ambulance $14,000 more than last year’s request.  This year’s request was $24,521, compared to $10,364 requested last year.

When questions arose in the audience about the increase, Phil Brooks of the Barton Ambulance Squad explained that the squad does not have very many volunteers, requiring a second part-time slot to be filled by an EMT at the going rate of $10 an hour.  That position had been previously funded by an Americorp grant which expired in September of 2010.  The essence of the increase was that if the Barton Ambulance was going to maintain the same level of service that townsfolk have grown accustomed to, then the requested increase needed to be approved.  The town agreed to that point by passing the article.

Representatives Vicki Strong and Sam Young both gave updates on legislative issues to include the single payer health care bill, the jobs bill, and broadband accessibility.