Bristol residents vote on the education budget during the annual town meeting at Bristol Consolidated School on Tuesday, March 21. (Maia Zewert photo)
After a half-hour discussion, Bristol voters authorized the Bristol Parks and Recreation Commission to hire a parks director during the annual town meeting at Bristol Consolidated School on Tuesday, March 21.
The Bristol Parks and Recreation Commission has been in the process of creating the position for almost a year. Approval at town meeting was a necessary step before the commission could start the hiring process.
Bristol Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Clyde Pendleton Sr. talks about the parks director position during the annual town meeting at Bristol Consolidated School on Tuesday, March 21. (Maia Zewert photo)
After moderator Don Means read the warrant article, Clyde Pendleton Sr., the chairman of the commission, gave a presentation on what the position would entail.
The parks director would oversee the day-to-day operations of the park, administer the commission’s budget, and serve as a liaison between the commission and the parks staff, the town, and the public.
In addition, the parks director would be responsible for creating new programs in the winter for both kids and adults, Pendleton said. The commission recently launched free activity nights in the BCS gym, and Pendleton hopes programming at the school will grow under a director.
Pendleton said the position would be full-time for 31 weeks of the year and part-time for 21 weeks. By hiring someone to oversee day-to-day operations, the commissioners would be able to focus on other areas, including creating three-, five-, and 10-year plans for the parks properties.
The director’s salary will be funded by revenue from Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park entrance fees. The commission will increase the entrance fee at the park from $2 to $3 for visitors age 12 and up.
The fee change will not affect passes for Bristol residents. For unlimited access to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park and Pemaquid Beach Park, residents pay $8 for a new pass and $5 for annual renewals.
The $40,000 included in the salary line for the new position is an “arbitrary figure,” Pendleton said. The salary and benefits for the director will depend on the individual and their experience and education.
Selectman Paul Yates compared the parks director to the position of town administrator, and talked about the benefits hiring a town administrator brought to the town.
“I was sort of negative about this position at the first of it, but then I thought how the town was run before we had an administrator and how the town has been running after we’ve had an administrator,” Yates said. “It’s proven to be physically and financially an enhancement to our position (as selectmen).”
The selectmen supported the position unanimously, Chairman Chad Hanna said.
“We supported the budget, our recommendation was unanimous, and that includes the director’s salary,” Hanna said.
Resident Paul Leeman III asked if the commissioners would consider decreasing their stipends if a parks director is hired.
The commissioners have discussed the topic and feel it would be right to decrease their stipends, Pendleton said. The commissioners receive $600 a month from April 1 to Nov. 1 and $200 a month for the rest of the year for a total of $5,200 annually.
Some residents questioned the need for a town vote on the position, as the parks department is self-funding and does not receive tax dollars.
Hanna said the selectmen felt it would be appropriate to get residents’ permission for the parks director, much as they did for the creation of the town administrator position.
Craig Elliott echoed Yates’ comments, and said there is a lot more happening at the parks than people might realize.
“We have three selectmen, the town voted to hire an assistant, what’s the difference?” Elliott said. “You sit here and in an hour’s time spend $5 million. You’re getting something for nothing, and you’re going to argue for it for damn half, three-quarters of an hour!”
The article passed by an overwhelming majority.
Voters also approved the $4,479,444.62 education budget for 2017-2018. The budget is an increase of $126,539.24 or 2.91 percent from the previous year. Residents passed the related articles with little discussion.
Resident and retired bus driver Sandra Lane encouraged the Bristol School Committee to purchase buses and hire their own drivers. Currently, the school contracts First Student for student transportation.
“We should take better care of our students in grade school and high school, and have buses controlled by the school committee and the town of Bristol,” Lane said.
David Kolodin, who chairs the school committee, said the committee would take Lane’s comments under advisement.
Bristol Planning Board Chair Andrea Cox presented amendments to the town’s shoreland zoning ordinance. The planning board amended the ordinance to bring it up to the state’s requirements, Cox said.
In addition, the amendment “slightly rezoned” a section of Bristol Mills, bringing some buildings into compliance, Cox said. Rules about timber harvesting have been removed from the ordinance, and will now be dealt with at the state level.
Elsewhere during the meeting, voters approved the $2,287,718.51 municipal budget, an increase of $69,777.48 or 3.15 percent, with little conversation.
Bristol Fire Chief Paul Leeman Jr. talked about the department’s request for $20,000 to make improvements to the Munro Bridge dry hydrant. Improvements would include digging out the adjacent pond a little more and the addition of a parking area for fire trucks, Leeman said.
Voters approved the $411,231.14 Bristol Fire and Rescue budget. The budget is an increase of $30,965.67 or 8.14 percent from the previous year.
Leeman also discussed the fire department’s efforts to provide property owners with highly reflective address numbers. The signs help responders locate addresses more easily, which can be crucial in an emergency situation, Leeman said.
The signs are available for a suggested donation to the Samoset Fire Co. More information about the signs and an order form are available on the town’s website.
