By Abigail W. Adams
Alna Town Clerk Amy Warner takes a hand count to determine the outcome of David Abbott’s motion to reduce the amount raised for Alna’s snow plow contract during the annual town meeting March 21. Approximately 70 residents turned out to participate in what the moderator said was “direct democracy”. (Abigail Adams photo) |
Seventy voters gathered at the Alna Fire Station Saturday, March 21 to form a single legislative body and determine the amount of funds to appropriate for municipal activities.
Through hand votes, voice votes, and secret ballot, Alna voters approved 41 articles on the warrant – some with amendment.
By a strong majority, voters approved Alna’s contract with Hagar Enterprises Inc., of Damariscotta, for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 and authorized the selectmen to enter into multi-year contracts of up to three years.
In a surprise move his fellow selectmen disagreed with, First Selectman David Abbott made a motion to amend the amount raised for the snow removal contract.
The article on the warrant asked voters to approve $240,071 for snow removal and salt and sand. Of the $240,071 requested in the warrant article, $195,071 was requested for the snow removal contract – the cost of the contract with Hagar Enterprises for the 2015-2016 year. The amount requested for salt and sand was $45,000.
Abbott made a motion to amend the warrant article to reduce the amount raised for the snowplowing contract to $165,000. Both outgoing selectmen, Jonathan Villeneuve and David Reingardt, spoke in opposition to the motion.
During the warrant-setting process, selectmen debated the amount to raise for snow removal. The debate centered around raising the amount Abbott said is needed for payments for the 2015 fiscal year, which runs from Feb. 1 to Jan. 31 in Alna, or raising the amount of the full second year of the contract, which continues into the next fiscal year.
The warrant article was initially set in February at $163,000 for snow removal and salt and sand at $45,000. The selectmen later changed the amount for snow removal to $195,071 to cover the cost of the second year of Hagar’s contract.
Abbott said reducing the amount raised for snow removal to $165,000 would cover the cost of payments for the 2015 fiscal year and keep the tax rate stable. Those who spoke in opposition to the amendment said they would have to make up the difference by paying more in the next fiscal year.
“You’re going to pay now or you’re going to pay later,” Second Selectman David Reingardt said. “Why not put the money in the bank where it belongs? This is not a savings. It’s semantics.”
Several voters spoke in opposition to the amendment and several spoke in its favor. The outcome of the motion could not be determined by a voice vote.
A hand count recorded 30 people in favor and 23 people opposed – the amendment carried. The sum the town voted to appropriate for snow removal was reduced from $240,071 to 210,071.
Alna voters approved all other expenditures with limited debate.
Abbott’s amendment reduced the overall amount of taxpayer funds raised for municipal activities by $30,000 from $713,597 to $683,597. The reduced amount is still a $55,832 increase from the previous year’s $627,765.
Four warrant articles tested public support for the selectmen’s bid policy and Alna’s multi-year contracts; the most controversial being the three-year contract with Hagar Enterprises.
Due to the controversy surrounding the snow removal contract with Hagar, selectmen learned, despite the established practice of decades of Alna selectmen, multi-year contracts require voter approval.
As one of his last official acts as selectman, Reingardt introduced the three separate warrant articles that asked for approval for Alna’s current multi-year contracts. Due to the selectmen’s bid policy, Reingardt said, two out of Alna’s three multi-year contracts, for auditing and mowing service, resulted in significant savings for Alna.
The cost of the snowplowing contract increased, Reingardt said, because it was the only bid received. The increased cost of the snowplowing contract, Reingardt said, was nowhere near the cost the town would pay for not honoring the bid process.
“What you’re trading off by not ratifying the contract is the integrity of the town,” Reingardt said. “To give up your town’s integrity in the bidding process will bite you in the behind.”
Voters approved the mowing and auditing contracts without controversy.
After extended debate on the snowplowing contract, a motion was made to move the question, or to end debate. It was quickly seconded and approved by a two-thirds majority.
When put to a vote, Alna’s legislative body approved the contract with Hagar Enterprises by a strong majority.
Fire Chief Mike Trask was a vocal opponent to the contract with Hagar Enterprises. “It is what it is,” Trask said after the meeting. “Ultimately, I’m okay with the vote.”
After extended debate, Alna also voted to allow selectmen to enter into multi-year contracts for up to a three-year term. Incoming Third Selectman David Baston made a motion to amend the warrant article.
Baston asked for a clause to be included to the warrant article to explain funds for multi-year contracts must be approved annually at the town meeting. Many felt there was no need for the clause because it was implied.
A loud voice vote supported Baston’s amendment. A louder voice vote defeated it. Alna voters authorized selectmen to enter into multi-year contracts by a strong majority.
After extended debate, Alna also voted in favor of developing a fireworks ordinance to regulate the discharge of fireworks. The article appeared on the warrant due to a citizen’s petition introduced by Paul Lazarus.
Lazarus said fire hazard concerns were the main reason he wanted the development of the ordinance. Other supporters of the article spoke of fireworks spooking horses and raising issues for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Opponents of the warrant article expressed concern about the town introducing additional regulations and placing more restrictions on residents.
Ultimately, the motion passed. Alna will move forward with the development of an ordinance regulating the discharge of fireworks.
Lazarus said voter approval of the warrant article was “reinforcing.”
“I don’t know what’s going to come of it,” Lazarus said. “I have a feeling my punishment will be that they’ll want me to serve on the committee [that develops the ordinance.]”
“This has been an exercise in direct democracy,” moderator Carl Pease said. This was the first year Pease moderated Alna’s town meeting.
“It was fairly typical,” Pease said. “It definitely wasn’t the rowdiest meeting I’ve moderated.”
