WILTON – Kermit Wiliams is seeking a third term on the Board of Selectmen. He is being challenged by newcomer Ralph Buschmann. Both men agree the town faces economic challenges, taxes need to be controlled, infrastructure needs to be maintained, roads repaired, and the downtown addressed. They also agreed Town Administrator Paul Branscombe is doing a great job for the town.

The two were part of a candidates’ night forum on Tuesday, Feb. 26., sponsored by the Lions Club and moderated by Bill Keefe, the town moderator. Also appearing, and running unopposed were Karon Walker, planning board; David Miller, trustee of trust funds, and Tim Mortvedt, a write-in candidate for an open position on the sewer commission. Lisa Post is running for school budget committee.

About 30 people attended the session in the town hall courtroom.

Charlie Post and Jim Kofalt are running for the school board, but not against each other. Post, a former board member from Lyndeborough will face Susan Ballou, former middle-high school assistant principal, and Kofalt, a former budget committee member will face Matt Mannarino.

Keefe read questions submitted by the audience.

Williams said he wants another term to see several on-going problems through: the state-mandated storm water system, four bridges and a dam that need attention, and a downtown that needs revitalization.

Buschmann, a resident of Sand Hill Road since 2010, said, while interested in development of the Reservoir, has wider concerns and will work to bring new industry to town to widen the tax base. His biggest issue is keeping the budget under control, “We have to decide what is a need and what is a want.”

He said the Recycling Center has suffered “benign neglect” and a new highway garage is probably needed.

Williams, also a state representative, said he has worked with the Department of Revenue Administration, the state Department of Transportation, and has sought state grants, all good connections for the town.

Buschmann said he has connected with DES and the Attorney General’s office “and they are very helpful.” He said he would “feel comfortable contacting business.” He added, “We need more civility at board meetings.

Economic development will be difficult, they agreed, since the town is between Milford and Peterborough, and any business coming to town “would have to be unique.” One need, Williams said, “is a good sit-down restaurant.”

The long vacant bank building was suggested for several uses.

Asked about providing services for the “marginalized,” such as high school students and the elderly, Williams noted the Wilton community Center which provides many programs but is looking for a home, a building that “is safe for kids.” Seniors are a different problem, many don’t drive and are homebound.

Charlie Post noted the town has “two beautiful school buildings with cafeterias, gyms. They belong to you and are for community use.”

Addressing Garwin Falls and the New Reservoir, Williams said the concern in parking. “the Falls is an attractive place” and people will go there, but it is private property, “and we need a long term solution for that.” The Reservoir pond is town-owned and there should be easy access to it.

Buschmann said “It seems to be doing okay now.”

Both Post and Kofalt said they believe in and support public school. They expressed concerns about the financial situation, agreed that the district does not need a full-time superintendent, and probably doesn’t need an assistant principal. Enrollment is declining and expenses are not. Both said the recent financial problems were the “result of mismanagement.”

Post said, “The town needs and expects good schools and “residents have lost respect for the school board.”

Kofalt added, “We don’t have the budget discipline that we should have. They are spending money on things that don’t benefit the students.”

Asked about hiring a Resource Officer, Kolfalt said he had no position.

Post said it was “probably a good idea, getting the police to work with the students.”

A resident noted “the schools seems more interested in athletics than academics.”

Both candidates said sports are important in character building.

“It’s a multi-faceted problem,” Kofalt said. “the budget committee hasn’t focused on academics.”

Post said the district had hired a curriculum coordinator, grades kindergarten through twelfth, with the idea of having a part-time superintendent, but that didn’t happen. “We need to stop a lot of the political things that are going on.”

Because of low test scores, Post said, “seniors are leaving to go to other schools. We could lose our high school.”

Kofalt said, “We need to look at the budget line-by-line. We need to make the tough decisions.”

Voting will take place on Tuesday, March 10, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the town hall.

The School District meeting is set for Saturday, March 7, at 9 a.m., at the middle/high school.

Town meeting will be on Thursday, March 12, 6:30 p.m., at Florence Rideout Elementary School. The time is new this year.