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Westport Island residents line up to vote by secret ballot to increase the state-established property tax limit during annual town meeting. The voters approved the article, 40-3. (Charlotte Boynton photo) |
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By Charlotte Boynton
Westport Islanders voted to keep a budget advisory committee in place and continue to appropriate money for charities during annual town meeting on Saturday, June 21.
About 50 residents attended the meeting at the historic town hall. The voters approved most of the articles on the warrant with little to no discussion, with the exception of two articles that failed and two articles that created much discussion.
The voters opposed the Westport Island Board of Selectmen’s recommendations to repeal the budget advisory committee ordinance and change the process for donations to charitable organizations.
The selectmen recommended the repeal of the budget committee ordinance due to the lack of membership, which affects the ability of the committee to perform its responsibilities under the ordinance.
Westport Island resident Dennis Dunbar spoke in favor of retaining the committee, even though it has been inactive.
He pointed out that in future years, the administration of the town may change, and a new administration may see value in a budget advisory committee. The majority of the voters agreed and defeated the article.
The voters also defeated an article to discontinue funding charitable organizations through municipal budget appropriations.
The selectmen recommended the taxpayers instead have the opportunity to make voluntary contributions directly to the agencies. A listing of approved agencies would be included in the tax bills for taxpayers to contribute directly in the amount they wished.
This article perhaps created the most discussion of any article on the warrant, with the majority of the people speaking in opposition to the article.
The town had approved four agencies for donations. These were also on the warrant. If the article to discontinue the donations from taxpayer money were to pass, the article listing the agencies and the amount of the donations would be dismissed.
When moderator Dan Bradford called for the vote, the article failed.
The voters subsequently approved the following donations: New Hope for Women Inc., $710; Midcoast Maine Community Action, $420; American Red Cross, $500, and Coastal Trans Inc., $400; for a total of $2,030.
The voters approved, after some debate, an article regarding maintenance and improvements to North End Road. The article will transfer $560 from vehicle excise taxes, withdraw $280 from the Clough Point fund, and raise $1,400 from residents who live along a certain part of the road.
Many Westport Island taxpayers, however, made it clear to the residents of North End Road that they will need to form a road association before the town would approve any more funds for maintenance on the road.
The portion of the road to be repaired is part of a prescriptive easement road, which means that town funds cannot be used without the approval of the voters.
A North End Road resident told voters the residents are asking for funds because North End Road is the road to Clough Point, and the additional traffic puts a burden on the road.
Clough Point is an 8-acre natural area of land purchased by the town in 1971 and is maintained by the Westport Island Conservation Commission, with hiking trails, picnic areas, and benches, as well as scenic points with views of Wiscasset village and the harbor.
Conservation commission member William Hopkins spoke against the article, and made a motion to amend the article to make the donation of money contingent on the formation of a road association.
The amendment received much support, but when it was determined the money would not be given to the residents of the road until a road association was formed, the amendment failed.
Those supporting the article without the amendment, including Road Commissioner Garry Cromwell, pointed out that the road needs repairs now, and the residents would not have enough time to form a road association for this year’s road repairs.
The article passed with the recommendation of the selectmen.
Westport Island voters approved a municipal budget of $670,617.75, a decrease of $18,429,22. There was also a decrease in the town’s educational assessment to RSU 12, from $1,158,802.83 last year down to $1,015,283, a reduction of $143,519.83. There is an increase in the county taxes of $7,879, from $257,004 to $264,883.
Second Selectman Gerald Bodmer said, “The mil rate most likely will not see an increase” as a result of the action taken at the town meeting.
Fire Chief Robert Mooney took the opportunity of the meeting to ask residents to consider purchasing reflective house numbers for their homes.
He said this past year the fire department and EMS has responded to over 70 requests for service. More than half of those calls were delayed to some extent because of difficulty in locating the correct residence.
“Some residences have their number on their mailbox; that is good for the post office, but not much for the fire department,” Mooney said. “The number should be on the house.”
“We are asking you to help your emergency services to serve you better,” Mooney said. “When we are responding to a call of a heart attack, stroke, severe injury, or fire, the lost time can mean more dire consequences than need be.”
First Selectman George Richardson was unable to attend the town meeting due to illness.
