Nobleboro voters chose not to enact a municipal fireworks ordinance, when they voted by secret ballot March 15.
The vote was 133 in favor of the ordinance and 157 opposed. Approximately 20 percent of Nobleboro’s 1400 registered voters cast ballots.
In unopposed balloting, former Selectman Harold “Bud” Lewis received 257 votes in his bid for the selectman’s seat vacated by Deborah Wilson. Citizens re-elected Hillary Peterson to the Nobleboro Community School Board and Tom Riggins IV to another seat on that board, with 208 votes each. Each of the above positions is for a term of three years.
John York was re-elected to a two-year term as road commissioner, with 262 votes. A total of 290 Nobleboro citizens cast ballots March 15.
Most discussion at the hour-and-a-half long meeting centered on the $2,851,490 school budget. Of that amount, state law requires the town to raise $1,895,048. Another $175,000 will come from fund balance brought forward from the previous year. Nobleboro’s state subsidy is estimated to be $71,470.
Central Lincoln County School System-AOS 93 Superintendent Steve Bailey said 61 percent of the budget would support elementary education, where enrollment is down from the 2012-13 school year. He said an increase in secondary education costs arose primarily from the need to provide transportation and other special services to two students who receive their education outside of the district.
In answer to a question from Stanley Waltz, Bailey said legislation is pending that would change the way tuition is paid for out-of-district students attending school at Lincoln Academy. Nobleboro is required to pay for one such student in the current academic year.
Bailey said the school board and selectmen chose to use current state subsidy estimates that do not include a proposal from Gov. Paul LePage to shift one-third of the cost for teacher retirement from the state budget to municipalities.
In response to a question from a voter, Nobleboro Central School Principal Ann Hassett described improvements in student test scores over the three years since she came to her position. Hassett said 78 percent of NCS students tested as proficient in reading, up from 71 percent in 2010. Mathematics scores showed even greater improvement, rising from 43 percent proficient in the fall of 2010 to 63 percent proficient in tests taken last fall.
“Even though we are pleased we are not satisfied,” Hassett said. “Our goal is 100 percent of our students meeting proficiency.”
In the only secret ballot of the day, voters approved a request for an additional $709,972 in local funds for education.
School Committee Chairman Joshua Hatch reminded voters of the upcoming budget validation vote, Friday, April 5. He said the second vote was required for the first three years after consolidation. That requirement could be rescinded by voters at the polls.
“Town meeting is sufficient,” Hatch said. “I urge people to support the budget again on April 5 and vote no to discontinue the second validation vote.”
In response to a question from Bill Hill, Board of Selectmen Chairman Richard Spear said the town had a carryover in the general assistance line that, combined with expected reimbursement from the state, allowed for a relatively small request of $2000 in that line.
Marty Welt presented a request from the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, for $1000 to help combat hydrilla. He said the failure of DLWA to make a formal request to appear on the warrant was an oversight.
According to the website at maine.gov, hydrilla is a submerged plant “native to Africa and is considered the most problematic invasive plant in North America.”
Spear said the funding request could not be added back during town meeting.
Welt rose again, with a similar request, during discussion of Article 43, which authorized the selectmen to raise and appropriate $10,000 to meet unanticipated emergencies.
“It’s an emergency,” Welt said. “We don’t want hydrilla to cause any more damage than it has.” He said Jefferson and Newcastle have allocated $1000 each for the issue.
Spear suggested Welt make the request of selectmen at one of their regular meetings.
All articles at the meeting passed.
The next meeting of the Nobleboro Board of Selectmen will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at the Nobleboro Town Office. For more information call the town office at 563-8816.
