Three local referendum questions on Vassalboro ballot

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro voters have local questions to answer at the polls on Nov. 4, in addition to the state referendum questions.

Voting will be at Vassalboro Community School (VCS), with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In the only election this fall, incumbent Frank Richards is running unopposed for another three-year term representing the town on the Kennebec Water District board.

Three referendum questions ask if voters want to:

— Authorize using up to $19,220 from surplus to pay auditing bills for fiscal years 2024 and 2025;
— Increase the number of select board members from three to five;
— Approve amendments to the town’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) document.

Select board members and Town Manager Aaron Miller have talked with the auditor several times in recent months. Miller blames the unpaid bills mostly on the turnover in town office staff, which led to delays in organizing financial information so the auditor could work efficiently.

Select board members have repeatedly discussed having a larger board. Main arguments in favor are that more views would be represented, and if two people were absent there would still be a quorum. The main argument against is the difficulty of finding volunteers for town boards and committees.

The proposed amendments to the TIF document, if approved, will let town officials use TIF funds for specified environmental projects in town. A copy of the document, with changes highlighted, is available for review at the town office.

In addition to the formal decisions Nov. 4, voters will find at the polls an opinion survey asking which type of town meeting they prefer, an open meeting (like the current June annual meeting, where voters assemble to discuss and vote, mostly by show of hands) or a referendum meeting (like Nov. 4, voting in individual voting booths by written ballot).

For more detailed information, see the front page of the Town of Vassalboro’s website, vassalboro.net.