All warrant articles passed voter approval at the Nobleboro annual town meeting Saturday morning amidst brief discussions about costs for education and replacement of the town’s salt and sand shed.
Approximately 100 voters present at the March 19 meeting approved borrowing up to $50,000 toward replacing Nobleboro’s sand and salt shed and discussed the town’s share of costs for education. The remaining articles on the warrant passed voter approval without much further discussion.
As the annual town meeting began, Selectman Dick Spear took a moment to express thanks to the firefighters who fought the blaze that burnt a Damariscotta Mills home owned by residents Russ and Diana Williams just the night before. He also thanked the fire department’s new Fire Chief, Ryan Gallagher, who he said is doing a good job stepping into a challenging position.
Residents also applauded AOS 93 superintendent Bob Bouchard and Nobleboro Central School’s new principal, Ann Hassett. This was Bouchard’s last Nobleboro town meeting as superintendent. In addition to friendly comments during a write-in ballot vote while people sipped coffee, ate donuts and chatted, Bouchard who has announced plans to retire, received a standing ovation from the crowd after comments from school board chair Josh Hatch.
Residents approved Spear’s amendment to article 14, authorizing selectmen to borrow up to $50,000 for the rebuilding of the sand and salt shed (which collapsed Feb. 7). Spear said the insurance would cover much of the cost and the amount to be borrowed will go toward additional improvements to the new shed.
Resident Bill Hill asked what effect this borrowed money combined with the cost of replacing the school roof would have on the tax rate. Spear said the interest rate on the money the town borrows would be approximately 2.5 percent, if the town needs to borrow any money for the project at all. The approved article also calls for the town to raise and appropriate $25,000 toward the project.
Spear said $100,000 would raise the current 10.1 mil rate up by roughly three tenths (0.3) of a mil. Borrowing $50,000 would effectively halve that tax rate impact.
According to Bouchard, of the $409,115 voters approved for facilities maintenance on the school budget, $180,000 will go toward the cost of a new roof for the school (approximately $5000 of which will go toward interest). Bouchard said the recommendation from engineers was to have about $375,000 set aside for the roof project, even though that estimate is high. The remaining $200,000 the town will borrow for the project will be paid back over two years.
As residents drifted out the door into a sunny afternoon, new officers were sworn in by town clerk Mary Ellen Anderson.
Walter Allen (“Al”) Lewis (161 votes) will serve the town on the Nobleboro Board of Selectmen for a three-year term, taking over for incumbent Henry Simmons (66 votes). Kriss Hunold (136 votes) will serve on the School Committee for a three-year term. John York (208 votes) will serve another two-year term as Road Commissioner. Dale Wright, Al Railsback, Buddy Brown and Kyle Wright received write-in votes for Road Commissioner.
Two out of three referendum questions passed. Questions one and two, which asked voters if the Nobleboro Land Use Ordinance should be amended as presented at the March 8 open town meeting, passed (Question one had 184 “yes” and 34 “no” votes. Question two had 142 ‘yes’ votes against 64 ‘no’ votes). Question three, which asked voters to endorse the Gateway 1 Corridor Action Plan, did not pass (82 “yes” votes against 146 “no” votes).
The open town meeting session in the Nobleboro Central School gymnasium ended 15 minutes ahead of Spear’s 11:30 a.m. prediction. The validation vote for the school budget will take place at the town office from noon to 6 p.m. on March 25.
