Bethel Town Meeting concludes on an approving note

Only one in 16 of the 929 voters who turned out Tuesday for Bethel's police-coverage vote bothered to show up the following evening to deal with the 35 remaining articles on this year's annual Town Meeting warrant.

The 58 who did approved an overall municipal budget of $3.15 million, as well as revisions to six town ordinances.

Minor changes were made to the budget, as necessitated by the previous day's authorization of county policing. Two of the ordinance articles were also amended, but the changes were to wording, not substance.

At about the one-hour mark, Moderator Dutch Dresser gaveled Bethel's 2010 annual Town Meeting to a close.

Town selectmen, at a special meeting immediately following, signed the contract for police coverage by the Oxford County Sheriff's Department.

It will begin July 1.