In a five-hour town meeting, March 31, at which tempers often flared, approximately 50 Somerville citizens processed 26 warrant articles, agreeing to spend $1,307,346 on expenses for the 18-month period between January 2013 and June 2014, effectively moving the start of their fiscal year forward six months.
Of that amount, $876,466 would cover operations during the first 12 months, with $431,380 covering the remaining period. Beginning July 1, 2014, the town’s 12-month fiscal year will run from July through June.
Somerville’s annual report was dedicate to outgoing Town Clerk Ernestine Peaslee, who retired this spring after more than 21 years of service to the town. A celebration is planned for Saturday, April 6 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Rising in opposition to the article, Frank Hample proposed a motion to continue the practice of electing the clerk for one year, stating an affirmative motion would have the opposite effect in the warrant.
Defending the original article, First Selectman Susan Greer said state requirements call for significant training and technical skills that an elected official may not have. She said a year is not enough time for a new clerk to obtain all the knowledge needed for the job.
“A trained person can be voted out after the town has spent money to train the person,” she said.
Eric Peaslee supported Hample’s motion, saying citizens are competent to make the decision.
“You are superseding outright to decide,” Peaslee said.
Hample said any elected official would be subject to the same concerns. His motion was approved 32-19, affirming the continued election of the own clerk/administrative assistant for a one-year term.
Article 4, calling for a similar change for the position of treasurer, was also rejected.
While some residents called elections a “popularity contest” and supported the proposal, Hample said the electorate should make the decision.
“Other towns hire their treasurer,” Brad Snow said. He expressed concern about the town’s exposure to liability with an elected treasurer. “The select board has to have control over the officials. If you’re unhappy with the decisions they make you can vote on the select board.”
“We’re still a little town,” Phil Harris said in opposition to the article. “Maybe we can defend our little corner of democracy as long as we can.”
The vote on Article 4 was 25 to 30, with opponents in the majority.
In subsequent years, bills would be issued at the same time, with half the payment due in December and the other half due in May.
In both cases, interest on unpaid balances would only accrue on the amount of the portion that is late.
Voters expressed concern about how to handle their own budgeting, in light of the change. Those who now use Christmas Club programs to save for property taxes will need to change their methods.
“Towns do this all the time,” Darlene Landry said.
Greer said the change would improve cash flow for the town.
Voters approved all remaining articles in the warrant, with some amendments and a great deal of discussion.
In answer to a question from Hample, Greer said the town’s current auditors, Purdy Powers & Company of Portland, were contacted in January to begin the process and told the date for town meeting at that time.
She said numerous email messages have passed between the town and the auditors. When they had not heard from them by March 25, the board called Purdy Powers again. She said the auditors did not keep its promise to deliver the audit by the Friday before town meeting.
“The response we received is, ‘This is a really busy time for us and we just can’t get up there,'” Greer said. She said a verbal statement from Purdy Powers said the town was in good shape.
She said the board planned to find a new audit firm.
Greer said the board would mail the audit report to all Somerville taxpayers, once it is received.
Purdy Powers Firm Administrator Gerhild Paris did not respond to several requests for comment.
Kimball, who was elected treasurer March 29, said she was hired and paid for 11 hours a week.
“I have been working almost 40 hours a week for 11 hours pay,” she said. “I’m retired and I like to work, so I did it.”
The newly designated positions would each work 15 hours a week.
Former Town Clerk Ernestine Peaslee, paid for 15 hours, often worked 20 or more, according to Kimball.
In addition, pay scales were adjusted to be closer to the state average for towns with fewer than 1000 citizens. Kimball said, with the passage of Article 9, Somerville’s office staff would still be paid less than the average.
“If you want a pay increase, the town office has to be open more for the convenience of town members,” Katie Orff said.
Greer said the clerk and other staff need time when the office is not open to the public to complete reports and other paperwork without interruption. Landry said some reports can only be done at the end of the week, after public hours.
She said the code enforcement position requires certifications and trainings that raise the pay scale such employees can demand.
“A lot of what we’re going through now is growing pains,” Beth Crummett said. She said many jobs formerly done by volunteers must now be filled by paid staff.
Greer apologized for an oversight that left out an article calling for the town to discount tax payments received before their due date.
She said the matter would appear on a ballot either at a special town meeting or at the time of the upcoming school budget referendum.
Voters approved the budget committee’s recommendation for Article 14, grants to not-for-profit community organizations, with some modification.
The board of selectmen were directed to give no funding to Kno-Wal-Lin Community Health and Kennebec Valley Mental Health, because those organizations specifically requested they not receive money from the town this year.
They were directed to provide funding to the Washington Fire Department, Spectrum Generations and The Community Housing Improvement Project.
An amendment offered by Hample to Article 22, authorizing the tax collector to accept prepayment of taxes, sought to require the town to pay interest on early tax payments at a rate equal to that charged for late payments.
The amendment was defeated after it was pointed out that the 7 percent per annum charged for overdue payment is far higher than any bank’s interest offered on savings.
“We’re not a bank,” Landry said. “Why should we give them money for paying a bill?” The article passed as written.
Hample also offered an amendment to Article 25, authorizing receipt and expenditure of grants and other receipts. That amendment, which was approved by voters along with the article, called for allowing the selectmen to take up to $10,000 from undesignated surplus to be used as matching funds for grants.
Finally, Greer said the board would review distribution of snowmobile registration revenue, after Jim Grenier said the recipient, Backwoods Bouncers Snowmobile Club, had disbanded. Greer said the board received a letter requesting the funds and stating the club was reorganizing.
The meeting, which began at 9 a.m., was adjourned shortly before 2 p.m.
At their April 2 meeting, the board of selectmen decided to appropriate funds for non-profit organizations as follows: $155 to Washington Fire Department; $177 to Spectrum Generations, and $150 to CHIP Inc.
For more information about Somerville town government, call the Somerville Town Office at 549-3828.
