Concerned about a variety of aspects of their town government, a group of Waldoboro residents convened for the second time at resident Katie Winchenbach’s home on Winslows Mills Road Feb. 16.
Nineteen people attended the meeting, which addressed the recent resignation of former town manager Bill Post, reducing the municipal budget, relations between town officials and the public, local planning projects and Gateway 1. At the request of the group, several town officials were in attendance, including Interim Town Manager Eileen Dondlinger, Planning and Development Director Misty Gorski, Waldoboro Selectman Bob Butler and Nobleboro Selectman Henry Simmons.
The meeting opened with Gordon Colby directing the group in the house rules: “No confrontations and accusations,” Colby told the room. “Questions are fine. I want it to be respectful. We all want something good to happen in Waldoboro. We might have different ideas of how to get here and different definitions of good, but we all have Waldoboro’s interest in mind.”
Although the views held by members of the self-described Concerned Citizens of Waldoboro (C-COW) generally differed from those of the town officials, the group used the opportunity to conduct a civil discussion, ask questions of the town officials and let them know where some Waldoboro residents’ priorities deviate from the recent town business.
The first part of the meeting was devoted to the situation surrounding Post’s surprise resignation Jan. 11. C-COW members were upset that, for the second time in four years, Waldoboro is paying a sizable severance package to a town manager that resigned with little notice.
Post received a severance package that could be worth up to $60,000. The previous town manager’s severance package totaled over $100,000.
Town officials were unable to comment in detail on the circumstances surrounding Post’s resignation, but Butler said the selectmen were acting on the guidance of their legal counsel when they agreed to the severance package.
“I think that counsel’s advice was sound, and in the best interest of the town,” Butler said.
Generally, C-COW members called for a contract to be formed with the next town manager. They also said the salary of the previous town managers has been too high.
“They ought to learn to live on what we all live on – $30,000 a year,” said resident Duncan Morrell.
There were a lot of calls for a town manager with common sense and Morrell said the town should focus on the character of the next town manager they hire.
“Just like a builder, the town manager needs to stand behind his work,” Morrell said.
The town will hold a public meeting to discuss the town manager situation on March 2 from 7-9 p.m. at the Miller School. Colby will moderate that public meeting, at the Board of Selectmen’s request.
The Feb. 16 meeting also dealt with the relationship between town officials and the public. Although the Feb. 16 C-COW meeting went smoothly, several members said they were upset by the Board of Selectmen’s handling of the public during a selectmen’s meeting on Feb. 15.
Some C-COW members felt the selectmen “rude” and “belittled the public” at that meeting.
Butler said the selectmen always intend to welcome residents’ comments and questions at selectmen’s meetings.
A significant number of C-COW members attended the Feb. 22 selectmen’s meeting, and the interaction between those citizens and the board was calm and courteous.
At the close of the meeting, C-COW members discussed dividing up the various town board meetings so that members of the group are present at the selectmen’s, planning board’s and school board’s meetings each week. They also discussed finding candidates to run for public office, volunteer for appointments to town boards and committees. Members requested that everyone talk to their neighbors and, as Winchenbach requested, bring a friend, to the next meeting.
The town officials in attendance said after the meeting that they enjoyed hearing from residents and stressed the importance of knowing what people in town are concerned about.
“When I have time, I’ll certainly be back,” Gorski said.
C-COW’s next meeting was originally scheduled for March 2, but will be rescheduled due to the public informational meeting that night.
