Bristol Approves Education Hike, Softball Field at Town Meeting

At a town meeting with limited discussion, Bristol voters gave the nod of approval to a new softball field and passed a $5,262,226.26 education budget in under two hours on Tuesday, March 19.

Residents buzzed through and approved 12 articles related to the education budget, an increase of $701,179.30 or 15.37 percent from the previous year, in seven minutes. Jim Albright expressed concern about the increase and asked if measures had been taken to reduce other expenditures.

Dave Kolodin, the chair of the Bristol School Committee, explained that most of the increase stems from a higher number of secondary education students. Last year, Bristol approved a budget for 72 secondary education students with a two-person contingency in case new students moved into town. There are currently 75 Bristol high school students. The budget for next year includes funds for 90 students with a two-person contingency due to the large class entering high school in the fall.

“I think this is an extraordinary number for this year,” Kolodin said of the increase.

Bristol Consolidated School Principal Jennifer Ribeiro said Bristol has also seen an increase in students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, further contributing to this year’s increase.

Marvin Farrin spoke on behalf of the Bristol Softball Committee in support of the construction of a new ball field near the school. Currently, BCS buses its softball team to a field at Pemaquid Beach Park. The new field would be constructed next to the school, which would keep the students on campus, he said.

The article that residents voted on authorizes the school committee to transfer up to $25,000 in undesignated funds left over from the 2018-2019 fiscal year to the capital projects fund for the construction of a softball field. The same warrant article also asks the town to authorize the school committee to expend up to $300,000 from the account and from grants received to pay for the construction of the ball field.

Donors have already pledged $205,000 for the project. Farrin said the softball committee and others have committed to raising the rest of the funds necessary for the project and that the $25,000 would be a “good-faith gesture on the part of the town.”

After all of the warrant articles related to the school had been voted on, Kolodin announced that BCS Head Custodian Bob Onorato would retire at the end of the school year after 33 years and thanked him for his service. Ribeiro announced that Sue Shiminski, who has worked in the front office at the school for more than 20 years, would also be retiring at the end of the year.

“These folks really make the school run, and we’re going to miss them,” Ribeiro said.

Later in the meeting, voters approved an amendment to the harbor ordinance that states “all moorings are for assigned craft only, as indicated on the most recent mooring registration application.”

Residents approved the $2,814,517.23 municipal budget, an increase of $533,696.71 or 23.4 percent from the budget approved at last year’s annual town meeting, with limited discussion.

Taxpayers will not feel the full impact of the increase. The budget calls for $1,134,200.08 in funds from taxation, an increase of $171,682.58 or 17.83 percent. The rest of the budget will be funded through balances carried from the previous year, surplus, excise tax, grants, and other sources.

While voting on requests from nonprofits, residents elected to give $2,000 to New Hope for Women rather than the $1,045. Although the organization requested $1,045, the budget committee recommended the higher amount after hearing compelling testimony about the services the organization provides, Bristol Budget Committee Chair J.W. Oliver said.

Sandee Brackett explained how the organization had helped her family after her stepdaughter was murdered. “After I spoke to the budget committee, they did increase to this amount, and I hope the rest of the town will also,” she said.

Selectman Paul Yates said the town tries to be consistent in giving organizations the funding they request.

“If one feels strongly about an organization that they think should have more money, I’m sure any of these organizations will accept donations,” Yates said.

In an effort to give residents a choice between the selectmen’s recommended amount and the budget committee’s recommended amount, Town Administrator Chris Hall made an amendment to decrease the donation to $1,045. The amendment failed, and the original motion to give $2,000 passed.

The Bristol Parks and Recreation budget is $400,847, an increase of $11,497 or 2.95 percent from last year. The parks department is self-funding – it does not receive tax dollars – and is projecting revenue of $401,550.

The beach pavilion project is not included in the proposed budget.

Bristol Parks and Recreation Chair Clyde Pendleton said there will be another public forum on the beach pavilion project on Tuesday, April 9 to give the community another opportunity for input.

Voters approved $39,000 for Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service, an increase of $22,769 or 140.28 percent, with no discussion.

CLC Ambulance is asking for an overall increase of $130,000 in contributions from its six member towns this year. The member towns are Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro, and South Bristol.

CLC Ambulance also provides service to Alna, Edgecomb, and part of Jefferson by contract.

Voters elected Kristine Poland to the Bristol Board of Selectmen and Clyde Pendleton to the Bristol Parks and Recreation Commission at the polls Monday, March 18.

Bristol Planning Board Chair Andrea Cox and Andrew Poland were elected for two three-year terms on the board, while Jessica DiMauro and J.W. Oliver were elected to two three-year terms on the Bristol School Committee.

(Editor’s Note: An earlier edition of this article misidentified Candy Brackett Butler as Sandee Brackett’s daughter instead of her stepdaughter. The Lincoln County News regrets this error.)