For the second time in three years, Jefferson residents approved every item on the warrant at town meeting except one item to donate money to Midcoast Maine Community Action.
At the polls on March 27, 321 voters created a municipal budget of $691,336, a $2285 decrease from last year. Residents also voted in favor of the school budget, which will be $5,228,755, an increase of $553,706 (11.8 percent) over last year’s budget. The local tax contribution to the Jefferson Village School budget is down $28,857 (.9 percent), for a total local contribution of $3,196,713.
Voters also approved an amendment to the town’s shoreland zoning ordinance. Under the new rules, property owners must get permission from the town prior to cutting dead and hazard trees within 100 feet of the water.
There were no contested races for town office. Residents re-elected James Hilton to a three-year term the Jefferson Board of Selectmen. Voters elected Wayne Farrin, George Humphrey, Carol Kimball and Bruce Sedgewick to three-year terms on the budget committee. Voters elected Forrest Bryant to a three-year term on the JVS school committee.
The lone item voters did not approve was an article to give $845 to Midcoast Maine Community Action. The article failed 151 to 156. Two years ago, this item failed; last year, this item passed.
This year, voters approved $9694 in other charitable contributions.
MMCA, an individually incorporated non-profit organization, provides rent, mortgage and heating assistance, Head Start, job training, financial and nutrition assistance for children and mothers, among other services, said Jessica Tysen, MMCA Executive Director.
At a meeting prior to last year’s town meeting, the selectmen expressed a measure of disbelief as to why the request failed two years ago and offered their endorsement of the services MMCA provides.
“They give a lot of help to Jefferson,” Selectman Robert “Jigger” Clark said. “Even though they were turned down last year, they’re still giving a lot of services to Jefferson residents.”
Town Clerk Lynne Barnikow said MMCA is an asset for the town because it significantly reduces the cost of the town’s General Assistance program.
“They really are trying to reach those people that use the general assistance,” Bond said. “We’re obligated by law to help people in those situations through the General Assistance program, and MMCA’s help reduces those costs by quite a bit.”
According to MMCA’s numbers provided prior to past year’s town meeting, they provided $33,501 in services to 13 individuals and four families in Jefferson that year.
