To the Editor:
On Nov. 4 the people of Whitefield, Windsor, Palermo, Somerville, Chelsea, Wiscasset, Alna and Westport Island are being asked to vote on the consolidation plan developed by the Sheepscot Valley RSU Regional Planning Committee.
We are not being asked whether we wish to consolidate or not, the legislature made that decision for us. We are being asked if the plan that has been developed is acceptable to each town.
A yes vote means we can move ahead with the formation of the RSU and be eligible for continued and perhaps additional financial support. A no vote means we do not approve of our town joining the proposed RSU which will result in the following penalties: a reduction in state funding of education costs with the possibilities of ongoing penalties, an increase of the mil rate expectation we must raise in order receive state funding and we will still have to join another RSU.
Finding another RSU to join means we will probably get into one we had no say in developing. By approving the Sheepscot Valley RSU plan, each town has an opportunity to get into an RSU that was formed by representatives who had their town’s interests in mind.
After completing our seventh town meeting on the consolidation plan, it appears that there is not much interest in what we had to say. It scares me to think that people are going to the polls and voting without knowing anything about the plan except rumors and incomplete information. Each town has three members on the RPC and all three superintendents were involved.
If anyone has any questions or concerns please contact any of the aforementioned people and get the correct information before you vote.
Lester Sheaffer, Co-Chair SVRSU Regional Planning Committee
Whitefield
