South Bristol residents approved every article on the warrant for the 2011 town meeting with minimal dissent March 8.
The town bought a new, $208,000 fire truck and a generator or generators for South Bristol School; approved a $1.66 million education budget and elected two members of the South Bristol Budget Committee.
Two warrant articles that raise money for the fire truck generated a question about the town’s property tax, or mil rate, – currently the lowest in Lincoln County at $3.12 per $1000 of assessed value.
The town will not set the rate until June, but it’s likely to be similar to the current rate, town officials said.
The town will purchase the truck with earnings from town investments and an appropriation from a fire truck reserve account, negating any need to raise taxes for the expenditure.
After the nomination of two candidates – Betsy Graves and Tamara Poland-Kaler -voters, by a show of hands, (35-13) chose Graves for a five-year term on the South Bristol Budget Committee. Graves is a current member of the committee.
Poland-Kaler subsequently won election to a one-year term on the committee. Poland-Kaler is a new member of the committee and will step in for Esther Norwood, whose term expired this year.
Selectman Ken Lincoln, responding to a question about a $75,000 article for the purchase of generators for South Bristol School, said, as he has in the past, the town only plans to spend about $35,000.
The higher amount appears on the warrant as the result of a citizen petition and the selectmen cannot change it, Lincoln said.
Dirk Brunner, a member of the South Bristol Comprehensive Planning Committee, responded to a question about what the school still needs in order to qualify as an emergency shelter.
Brunner said the committee believes the school needs upgrades to the food preparation area. The committee has suggested inviting the Red Cross to analyze the building and provide the town with a professional opinion.
A $2000 article to cover the expenses of the ongoing comprehensive plan process ran into vocal opposition from one resident.
“Is there really any need for this?” John Seiders asked. “In my view, it’s a waste of taxpayer money to pay for this.”
“If you want to put more regulations on my property, you can start paying my taxes,” Seiders said.
Comprehensive Planning Committee Chairman Ralph Norwood said the plan, which has been approved by the state but has yet to go before the town, doesn’t impose any new regulations. He encouraged Seiders to attend a meeting of the committee in order to discuss his concerns.
The article passed, despite scattered “nays” in the voice vote.
Responding to a question about a $20,000 appropriation for the fire truck reserve account, Selectman Chris Plummer said the town “should be able to go 10 years” before purchasing another truck, at which time, with annual, $20,000 appropriations, the town will have $200,000 in hand.
Selectman Chester Rice, who won reelection March 7, replied to a question about whether the reserve account would be enough to meet the town’s needs. “The town has a $10 million reserve account, so I think it’s enough,” Rice said, referring to South Bristol’s ample portfolio.
During discussion of a “highways” article, resident Barbara Pickett asked the town to consider necessary repairs to a small municipal parking lot on Rutherford Island.
“I think it’s more than a pothole,” Pickett said of a particularly troublesome area of pavement. “It looks to me like a sinkhole.”
“There is a deep hole there,” Lincoln said. “We will address it this spring.” The town plans to wait to pave the entire lot, however, until construction begins on The Gut bridge.
The Dept. of Transportation has said construction may begin as soon as the spring of 2012.
During a brief recess, Makayla Bailey, a student in the third grade at South Bristol School, drew the raffle for a boat built by the school’s class of 2010. Carol McDonald won the raffle. SBS principal Scott White estimated the raffle raised about $1500 for the eighth grade class trip to Washington, D.C.
The town unanimously approved $20,594 in appropriations for various non-profit organizations, including $5000 for the town’s centennial celebration.
The town hopes to raise $25,000 for the 2015 event, Lincoln said.
Notably, voters approved a $39,885 article for debt service – a routine item, except the appropriation represents the final payment on the South Bristol School gymnasium. The announcement drew applause from the room.
During discussion of the school budget, Moderator Ken Maguire and school employee Terry Mitchell delivered brief tributes to two familiar faces in local education.
Central Lincoln County School System Supt. Robert “Bob” Bouchard, retiring months after winning a prestigious state award, the 2011 Superintendent of the Year, received a round of applause, as did the former Chairman of the South Bristol School Committee, John Mitchell, who retired after nine years on the committee.
A “validation vote” for the school budget will follow on Tues., March 22. According to Town Clerk Annette Farrin, voters will answer the question “Do you approve of the vote taken at town meeting?”
The town must continue the process for three more years before voters can choose to bypass it.
