Richard Ruhlin, standing, serves as moderator for the Industry town meeting on Saturday, March 9. Ruhlin was also re-elected as representative for the RSU 9 board of directors. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

INDUSTRY — The town of Industry passed all 39 town warrant articles without amendments at the annual town meeting held at the Town Hall on Saturday, March 9. The town meeting started at 2 p.m. following the town’s municipal election, which saw a total of 20 votes cast for selectperson and a Regional School Unit 9 representative.

Rich Ruhlin will remain as the RSU 9 representative, running unopposed with 18 votes [one write-in, one blank]. Mark Prentiss will take over from Selectperson Robert Geisser, who chose not to run for reelection, with 19 votes [one write-in].

The town report was dedicated to Geisser and fellow Industry resident Joseph Paradis Jr., recognizing their many years of service to the town. Geisser served the Select Board for 20 years and fire department for 25 years and counting. Paradis served as fire chief for 19 years, road commissioner for 14 years and the Select Board for three years.

“We extend a grateful and sincere thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the Town of Industry and community members,” it states in the town report.

Selectperson Earl “Lee” Ireland opened the town meeting by sharing a few words about Geisser, Paradis and Prentiss, who previously served with Ireland as a member of the Select Board in 1985.

“At that time, Mark and I were involved in the fire department because we were trying to be good citizens of the community,” Ireland shared. According to Ireland, Prentiss moved to Portland, but returned to the town of Industry and is eager to serve his community as a member of the Select Board.

According to Ireland, when Geisser joined the Select Board, the town’s valuation was sitting at roughly $58 million. “Today, we’re just over $100 million,” Ireland stated.

Ireland praised Paradis’ tenure as both road commissioner and fire chief, referring to his time with the fire department as one of the better times for local volunteerism.

“It was back when people had the spirit of volunteerism,” Ireland shared. “We used to have, you know, 15 to 20 guys on our fire department. Unfortunately, those days are gone. People don’t like to volunteer in our town.”

Selectperson Earl “Lee” Ireland, center, speaks Saturday, March 9, at the Industry annual town meeting about items in the town report. The town report was dedicated to Robert Geisser, left, and Joseph Paradis Jr. (not pictured), recognizing their many years of service to the town. Also seen is Richard Ruhlin. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

All 39 articles passed without amendments. Ruhlin served as moderator for the meeting. The town voted not to allow non-residents to speak at the meeting.

Among the articles, Article 37 appropriated $75,000 for a used fire truck engine/pumper. An audience member asked if $75,000 was sufficient enough to get a truck that would last the town.

Ireland stated that in speaking with Fire Chief Tim Hardy, his suggestion was a medium sized fire engine. With strong mutual aid from neighboring towns, along with their two existing vehicles, Ireland stated a medium sized engine would supplement the town’s needs, and $75,000 provides a wider field of options for the town.

“For a lot of us here that are probably over the age of 50,” Ireland stated, “unless something catastrophic goes wrong with it, it would be the last medium sized truck that we would need to buy.”

Article 39 replaced the previous dog control ordinance with a revised ordinance. According to Animal Control Officer Erin Ryan, the previous ordinance, which was enacted in 2001, was too vague in regard to barking dogs. The new ordinance specifies the length of time a dog can be barking before it becomes excessive and associated fines.