Wiscasset voters overwhelmingly voted to reinstate the assessing agent’s budget during an open special town meeting at the Wiscasset Middle School Oct. 8. Voters also dismissed warrant articles seeking funding for severance pay, extra legal help and training for the board of selectmen.
Wiscasset voters had twice rejected proposed assessing budgets forcing the town to lay off assessing agent Sue Varney last month. Varney had worked for the town for almost 36 years and by contract, was owed two weeks severance pay for every year worked.
The express purpose of the open town meeting was to raise money for Varney’s severance pay of $67,340.
Article 2 on the open town meeting warrant asked the voters to raise and appropriate $16,000 for the assessing department. Wiscasset resident Judy Flanagan made a motion to amend the article to raise and appropriate $57,939 for the assessing budget.
During discussion, Flanagan explained the original proposed assessing budget, which voters rejected in June, was $74,719. Because voters simultaneously authorized selectmen to expend up to three-twelfths of the annual budget in the event a warrant article failed, $16,780 had already been spent.
The balance of the assessing budget would be the $57,939. Flanagan suggested it made better sense to pay the salary of the assessing agent, which would be less than paying the severance pay of $67,340, and the town would have an assessing agent.
Some residents expressed concern of what would happen should Varney not come back to work. “We certainly would offer the position to Sue, and would hope that she would accept,” said Selectman Ed Polewarczyk. “In the event she didn’t want to come back, this article would put the town in a position to hire another assessing agent.”
Former town treasurer James George, assured the citizens that he had talked with Varney earlier in the day, and she had confirmed she really wanted to come back to work. Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith also indicated Varney had expressed that desire. Although Varney was present at the town meeting, she made no comment during the discussion.
After a brief discussion, moderator Susan Blagden called for a vote, with the article passing with an overwhelming majority.
Flanagan asked if articles on the warrant could be dismissed, to which Blagden said, ‘yes.’
Flanagan moved to dismiss Article 4, asking for the $67,340 for the severance pay; that motion passed without comment. Flanagan moved to dismiss Article 5, asking for an additional $20,000 for the legal account; that motion also passed without comment.
The voters approved changing Friday, Dec. 6, and Friday April 25 2014 as the dates when semi-annual tax payments are due.
There were 157 registered voters at the special town meeting, which ended in a celebratory atmosphere with many of Varney’s friends and supporters gathering around her expressing their best wishes for a fast return to the town office.
Town Manager Laurie Smith, asked her to come back as soon as the next morning.
After the meeting Varney said she was very pleased to have the opportunity to go back to work, and indicated she would be back on the job on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
“I’d go back on Monday, but it’s a holiday,” she said.
