NEW PORTLAND -- Change was not on the minds of the 50 people who braved the elements to attend Saturday's annual town meeting.

In this its Bicentennial year, the town of fewer than 1,000 -- known was its situation on the Carrabassett River and the famous Wire Bridge -- town officials dressed in early-1800s attire. They read poems, and proclamations.

But change came, too.

Despite one woman's objections, voters gave solid approval to a pay raise for town officials. And on the 43rd article of the 44-article warrant, they approved a new building notification ordinance.

Town Manager Andrea Reichert said that the notification ordinance drew questions, then passed with ease. She said that the old ordinance was not being utilized well, resulting in unfair property-tax assessments.

According to the pay raise schedule, Reichert will earn $26,000 a year compared to her old $22,700 salary. Selectmen will get $3,000 -- a raise of $200.

Becky Taylor objected to the town manager's pay increase. Told that Alice Bixby occasionally fills in for Reichert as deputy town manager on an hourly basis, Taylor said there are few towns of that size who have both.

She offered an amendment to cut the administrative budget from $101,363 to $98,000 but it failed for lack of a second.

Prior to the meeting, Reichert, recovering from a broken ankle and wearing a floor-length green dress, limped in on crutches. Board members and Bicentennial Committee members alike dressed the part.

Pat Newell's plain doughnuts tasted just as plain doughnuts would have 200 years ago.

Selectwoman Janet White, wearing a white bonnet, read a short history of the town, settled by David Hutchins.

"I feel like I should be out chopping wood, or on Little House on the Prairie, or something," White said. "Today we still hold our town meeting on the first day of March, whether it's snowing or not."

Judy Wills, chairwoman of the Bicentennial Committee, mentioned that T-shirts and other Bicentennial memorabilia are for sale.

Selectman Dour Archer read a long poem on the town's 200th anniversary, written by Karen Pease. The poem is printed inside of the town report.

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