Dresden Town Clerk Patricia Theriault was on the hot seat at the Monday, June 13 selectmen’s meeting after she apparently failed to post notice warrants for the Tuesday, June 14 elections within the legally required time limits.

Selectman Allan Moeller Sr. said that residents had complained about the lack of public postings.

“It should have been done by last Tuesday (June 7),” said Moeller following the meeting. 

Moeller said that the Secretary of State and an RSU 2 official were contacted last week for advice. Residents were scheduled to go to the polls on Tuesday, June 14 to vote in state primaries, the RSU 2 budget and for local officials.

Moeller said the town was advised to “go ahead” with the late posting but could be in jeopardy if the posting were not made properly for the November general election. The late postings were made on Friday, June 10, said Moeller, although he said he could not remember seeing them on both doors of Pownalborough Hall, the polling station. 

“If anything is messed up in November we will be in deep trouble,” said Chairman Dale Hinote.

Moeller said Theriault had received a packet of instructions with the posting requirements from the state. The town clerk position is elected and not under the control of the selectmen, he said. Theriault was up for a new one-year term on Tuesday’s ballot.

Selectmen said that the immediate consequence was that up to 10 absentee ballots had to be recalled, invalidated and reissued due to the posting failure.

Theriault attended the selectmen’s meeting but declined comment, deferring to the selectmen.

In other business, the board decided to decline a $3,300 mowing contract renewal offered by David Young. It was a $200 increase over the current contract that expires at the end of June. 

“I think we can do it cheaper by using a town employee,” said Moeller. 

Hinote estimated the 14 mowings would cost an estimated $840 in labor. 

The board agreed to hire town employee Scott Mullen to do the work at $9 per hour and supply him with mowing and weed-wacking equipment. The town maintains lawns at the town office, Pownalborough Hall, fire station and transfer station.