SOLON & BEYOND: Finally got down to town office for annual meeting report

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

This week, I finally went down to the Solon Town Office and picked up the papers for the Solon annual town meeting which was held on March 6. My apologies for being so late but the fall I took slowed me down a bit. The moderator elected was Peter Miles. Article 2 elected municipal officials and school committee members as are required to be elected. Nominated candidates: Selectman, three-year term: Wayne Johnson received 42 votes; Road commissioner, one-year term: Gary Bishop received 44 votes; MSAD # 74 School Board Director, three-year term: Robert Lindblom received 44 votes.

Forty-seven voters participated in the election of municipal officials and a school committee member. All candidates ran unopposed. All candidates retained their seats. Article 3: To see if the Town will vote to take the following amount from the 2020 surplus for overage in the following accounts: Chairman of selectmen $.04, Town Office Security System $30.40, Trio Computer Programs $283.36, Unemployment Insurance $.48, Fire Department $1,193.40 , Moto Vehicle Money $39.25, State Plumbing Fees $400 and State Plumbing Surcharge $90. Selectmen and budget committee recommend Yes.

Article 4: To see if the Town will vote to increase the property tax levy limit of $584,990, established for the town of Solon by state law, in the event the municipal budget approved under the following articles will result in a tax commitment that is greater than that property tax levy limit. Selectmen and budget committee recommend Yes motion to accept Article 4 as written: was signed by Michael Golden and Lois Miller.

There were six full pages of the Solon annual town meeting that I was given when I went to the office to ask for it, but I don’t have enough room to print all of them. Everything seems to have passed and I don’t know how long it took, as to whether there was very much discussion or not. Sorry I can’t give you more information, but I didn’t feel up to par through March this year. But I can also count my blessings! It was a rough tumble that I took down some stairs in a store but it never broke a bone! I have always said that I am tough, but at my advanced age, I think it is a miracle!

Another paper I was given along with the town meeting results states, Advisory Committee Ordinance, Proposed 3-6-2021; The existing budget committee is hereby renamed the advisory committee and all current budget committee members will continue to serve until their term expires.

The advisory committee shall be composed of 15 members and two alternate members. The selectmen shall appoint five (5) members each year for a three (3) year staggered term. The selectmen shall appoint two (2) alternates for three (3) year staggered terms. In the event a member is unable to complete his or her term, the most senior alternate will be appointed to fill that vacancy and will complete that member’s term. The selectmen shall then appoint a new alternate to complete the former alternate’s term.

Alternate members can fully participate in the meetings except for voting. When a member is absent from a meeting, most senior alternate in attendance will be allowed to vote. When a member has three (3) consecutive unexcused absences, the selectmen have the option of terminating his or her membership on the committee and may replace that member with the most senior alternate.

All warrant articles shall be reviewed by the advisory committee prior to any annual or special town meeting. Committee members shall approve or disapprove each article.

No articles will be accepted for an upcoming town meeting after the advisory committee has met, except by agreement of the selectmen and the advisory committee and time allows for a special advisory committee meeting.

This ordinance hereby rescinds all prior budget committee ordinances or policies.

And now for Percy’s memoir: It is called Don’t Give Up, and it is on just a little piece of paper and when I turned it over it says I have used it before, but it doesn’t say when. Hope you will like it and remember it. “You may be tempted to, but don’t give up, when you’ve lost the desire to try, and you’ve misplaced your hopeful dreams, dare to believe again in the impossible; Catch a ray of sunshine, and hold on tightly; The One who holds your hand… will never let you go.