Damariscotta voters will decide whether to accept the recommendations of the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen and budget committee to decline requests for funds from eight nonprofits at annual town meeting.
The meeting will convene at the Lincoln Theater at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 10.
Voters will also decide whether to approve an essentially flat municipal budget and several minor amendments to local regulations.
The town budget totals $2,220,468.94, a decrease of $12,056 or 0.54 percent.
Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus said the figure “respresents the diligence, considerable diligence, on the part of the budget committee and the selectmen to develop budget recommendations that are responsive to the need to keep taxes as low as possible, especially in light of the increase that we’re seeing for secondary schools.”
Damariscotta taxpayers are likely to see a property tax hike of roughly 8 percent despite the effort to hold the town budget, according to Lutkus. The increase in taxes would stem primarily from a $444,092 or 34.97 percent increase in the secondary education budget.
Residents will also vote on the $439,531.93 county tax, an increase of $35,557.09 or 8.8 percent due to a county budget hike and an increase in Damariscotta’s state valuation.
The nonprofit requests total $12,965, which would amount to less than 1 percent of the town budget, although the requests could generate as much or more debate at the meeting.
The requests follow in order by amount: Central Lincoln County YMCA, $3,500; Spectrum Generations, $2,990; Coastal Kids Preschool, $1,500; Lincoln County Dental Inc., $1,500; Midcoast Maine Community Action, $1,320; New Hope for Women, $1,155; Ecumenical Food Pantry, $500; Pemaquid Watershed Association, $500.
The selectmen voted against the requests 4-1, with George Parker the lone holdout. The budget committee was split on the vote, originally locking up with a 3-3 vote before revisiting the issue at a later meeting and siding with the selectmen, 4-3.
“Kind of the overriding thought is that this is a town budget and the perspective among the selectmen and the budget committee was that it should not be the conduit for funding nonprofit organizations,” Lutkus said.
Damariscotta Board of Selectmen Chairman Ronn Orenstein said “nearly none of the nonprofits show up for any explanation” of their requests.
For several years, the selectmen have discussed leaving the requests off the annual town meeting warrant altogether and instead including information about the nonprofits in tax bills so taxpayers can choose whether to make a voluntary donation.
“That potentially conflicts with state statute with regard to citizens’ ability to petition to be on the warrant,” Lutkus said. The nonprofits have to collect signatures and petition the town to place their requests before voters.
Skidompha Library and Lincoln County Television are also nonprofits, but fall under a different category in the budget. The selectmen and budget committee did recommend those expenditures – $21,000 and $6,037, respectively.
Damariscotta voters will also consider amendments to various ordinances and other non-budgetary matters at the town meeting.
The regulations in need of tweaking include the shellfish conservation ordinance, the shoreland zoning ordinance, up for two amendments; and the zoning map.
The shellfish conservation ordinance amendment would eliminate conservation requirements that potentially conflict with federal labor law and require the shellfish conservation committee to establish conservation requirements each year, which the selectmen would review.
The shoreland zoning ordinance amendments are minor and technical in nature, according to town officials.
The change to the zoning map would move the boundary of the commercial district at the request of Hagar Enterprises Inc. to allow the business to expand operations at its 162 Biscay Road property. The change would affect a few acres at the back of the property.
Hagar Enterprises primarily uses the 3.7-acre property to store heavy equipment and materials, as well as for some sales of materials. The business plans to purchase 3 acres behind the property from a neighbor to provide more room for storage.
Voters will also consider a minor change to the comprehensive plan approved at town meeting in 2014.
Voters will also decide whether to authorize the selectmen to enter into interlocal agreements “for the purpose of performing municipal services jointly” with Newcastle.
The selectmen already have the authority to enter such agreements for public works services, per a 2011 vote. This year’s vote would extend the authority to other areas. The towns are moving toward joint administration of harbor and shellfish regulations.
The town meeting will also elect members of the Damariscotta Budget Committee and Damariscotta Cemetery Committee from the floor.
The candidates for the budget committee are Jennifer MacDonald, incumbent Richard Mayer, and current alternate member Robert Nee for three-year terms; Anthony Kilburn, incumbent Karen O’Bryan, and Joyce Polyniak for two-year terms; and current regular member Shari Sage for a three-year term as an alternate member. There is also an opening for another alternate for a two-year term.
Committee members Dick McLean and Ron Ranes are not seeking re-election.
Incumbent Lorraine Faherty is the selectmen’s nominee for a three-year term on the Damariscotta Cemetery Committee.
Prior to the open portion of the town meeting, Damariscotta will elect municipal officers Tuesday, June 9. The polls will be open at the town office, at 21 School St., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Incumbent Robin Mayer and former Selectman Josh Pinkham are the only candidates for a three-year term and a one-year term, respectively, on the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen.
Incumbent Brent Hallowell is the only candidate for a three-year term on the Damariscotta School Committee and Great Salt Bay School Committee. Hallowell is a write-in candidate due to an issue with his nomination paperwork.
Incumbent William Brewer is the only candidate for a three-year term on the Great Salt Bay Sanitary District Board of Trustees.
