Voters at Westport Island’s genial and well-attended town meeting passed every article on the town warrant with passionate discussion but little dissent.
The meeting’s marquee item, a $1,335,000 loan, won residents’ votes, but not their enthusiasm.
Dennis Dunbar, Chairman of Westport Island’s Budget Committee, explained the proposal to voters. “A few years ago, we got a tax holiday because of a change in the fiscal year.” Now, he said, “We’re collecting taxes after the money is spent, and that’s against state rules. This brings us back in sync.”
The loan will allow taxpayers to catch up over five years. The alternative, according to Treasurer Sue Partelow, would be to assess two years of taxes in a single year.
Curt Downer said town officials delayed the measure unnecessarily. “When we realized this hole was confronting us… that’s when the hole should have been addressed,” he said. “We look to our selectmen for adult supervision.”
Downer’s scolding drew scattered applause, but voters agreed to the loan without extensive discussion.
The issue that upset voters most had little to do with town government. During discussion of a routine article providing for maintenance of town roads and bridges, several residents expressed anger over the condition of the state-maintained Rt. 144.
“The sides of the roads are falling apart,” Bill Hopkins said. “It is unacceptable for the roads to be in this condition… We need to put [the state] on public notice.” Hopkins called the deterioration of the roads a “hazard to health and safety.”
“I’ve lost a car and I could have lost my life,” Cynthia Lewis said. “We need [repairs] now.” The road, she said, has “enormous holes.”
Carole Dunbar called the condition of the roads “deplorable.” The state doesn’t realize how crucial Rt. 144 is, she said. “We only have one way on and off this island.”
“The priorities being established by the [Maine Department of Transportation] are not equitable,” Downer said.
Selectman Jerry Bodmer encouraged the upset residents to contact their representatives in the state legislature.
Other town officials offered residents a different strategy for coping with the road. “Just slow down, that’s all I can say,” Road Commissioner Garry Cromwell said.
The longest discussion involved requests from service organizations. Voters ultimately approved all requests, resulting in a total appropriation of $22,985 for service organizations, a slight decrease from last year’s $23,230. Unlike some other towns, Westport Island considers each organization’s request individually. Several organizations sent representatives to the meeting.
Marcia Richardson spoke on behalf of New Hope for Women. Like countless others, the organization has suffered during the recession, recently cutting a key position. “We no longer have a staff person at New Hope who will be coming to our schools to teach about healthy and unhealthy relationships,” Marcia Richardson said.
“In spite of the cuts… the advocates work very hard to keep women safe,” she said.
Jessica Tyson, Executive Director of Maine Midcoast Community Action, said her organization offers job training and coordinates local Head Start and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) programs. Currently, Tyson said, the organization is seeking a grant that would allow them to offer Head Start to younger children.
Richard DeVries also spoke in favor of the program. DeVries suggested that voters take a $500 request for the Red Cross and award it to Midcoast Maine Community Action instead. DeVries said Red Cross executives are “overpaid.”
Moderator Daniel Bradford told DeVries the motion was not allowable, but DeVries argued to deny the Red Cross request when it came up for discussion moments later, calling the organization a “top-heavy unit.”
“Too much of their funds go to paying people,” DeVries said.
Several others, however, defended the Red Cross. “Any time you hear of a natural disaster, you also hear about [the Red Cross],” Hopkins said. “I don’t think $500 is a lot of money… they deserve our support.”
David Lenz said that, after the death of his brother, he made a phone call to the Red Cross to try to bring another brother home from Afghanistan. His brother left Afghanistan the same day. “It does work,” he said.
Bodmer presented information on several of the organizations without representatives at the meeting.
The largest requests came from the Wiscasset Library ($9200) and the Wiscasset Community Center ($8000).
Susan Blagden, a volunteer and former President of Trustees at the library, spoke in support of the article. In Westport, 490 adults and 50 children have active memberships at the library, meaning they’ve checked out at least one item in the previous year, she said.
Last year, Blagden said, the library’s total operating budget was about $174,000. This year’s budget, she said, “is for about $10,000 less than that.” The library cut back on book purchases, she said.
“It’s about $20 a person,” Tyson said. “To me it’s an easy choice.”
Todd Souza, Director of Parks and Recreation for Wiscasset, said Westport’s $8000 contribution to the Community Center gives the town resident status. “You get a lower rate,” he explained. For example, a family membership costs $515 for non-residents, compared to $390 for residents, he said.
In addition to recreational opportunities, the Community Center serves as an emergency shelter for the area, Souza said.
A Senior Spectrum spokeswoman told attendees one of the organization’s biggest contributions comes in the form of their Meals on Wheels program. The program accepts donations from participants, she said, but rarely receives anything. “Generally we get about $.80 per meal for a meal that costs us over $7 to produce,” she said.
The budget committee and selectmen differed in their advice for Article 18, a measure to “authorize the Conservation Commission to develop an Open Space Plan for the Town, as a needed step toward an update to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.” Selectmen did not recommend the article.
“It was my thinking that it should have come under the [Conservation Commission’s budget],” First Selectman George Richardson explained. Richardson expressed concern with public participation in the project. “Somehow we’ve got to get the young people… It’s up to the people to be able to vote on this,” he said.
Hopkins, the Chairman of the Conservation Commission, argued in favor of the proposal. “For us to be able to communicate with you, we need this budget,” he said. “The budget is not anywhere near excessive.” Hopkins said it costs over $200 for a single mailing to island residents.
Downer asked if, upon completion, the open space plan would become operative.
“No,” Hopkins said. “We’ll bring it to the town.”
Some controversy arose surrounding $1,180 in membership fees for the Maine Municipal Association (MMA). “Are they going to separate their political activities from their municipal activities?” Hopkins asked.
Richardson said the MMA is currently involved in a lawsuit over the matter.
“It wouldn’t be prudent not to be a member,” said Sandra Crehorne.
During discussion of a legal fund administrated by selectmen, E. Davies Allan asked if the town would sell 100 yards of topsoil at $25 per yard from the dirt pile at the new boat landing on Ferry Road. DeVries, who owns the land where contractors placed the dirt this winter, has claimed it belongs to him.
Selectmen eluded the question, but Selectman Ross Norton said, “We don’t plan to spend any money on topsoil issues.”
According to Richardson, Westport currently faces one legal issue – an appeal of a building permit. The issue “has to do with my son and my two sisters,” Richardson said.
Voters approved four articles for the Westport Volunteer Fire Department, including operation costs, $15,000 for the fire truck reserve fund, EMT training and insurance.
The budget represents “No increases whatsoever,” said Fire Chief Robert Mooney. For the future, he said, the department is “looking into a new engine.” Recently, he said, the department got a grant approved for a new EMS computer. What the town really needs, however, is volunteers, he said.
“We need young, healthy people that are willing to make a commitment… We’re not getting any younger,” Mooney said.
At the meeting’s close, Richardson thanked those present for their “intelligence and courtesy” amidst debate. “I think this is a record,” he said.
