VASSALBORO: Public safety, recreation draw most of town meeting discussion

by Mary Grow

Voters at Vassalboro’s annual town meeting devoted most time to two sections of Article 6, the article asking for more than $2.7 million for 14 town departments. The two sections were the public safety department, for which the select board recommended $102,108 and the budget committee recommended $94,189; and the recreation program, for which both boards recommended $65,898.

At issue in the public safety request was whether Police Chief Mark Brown should have increased hours, from 15 to 20 per week, and a commensurate pay increase. The majority of select board members said yes, the majority of budget committee members said no.

The main arguments in favor were that crime is increasing state-wide while law enforcement personnel are getting harder to find, and Brown does a variety of jobs, like providing back-up for the codes enforcement officer if needed and, Town Manager Aaron Miller said, responding when residents find drug paraphernalia strewn on their lawns.

The main arguments against were that with both state police and sheriff’s deputies available, Vassalboro doesn’t need more local law enforcement; and some of what Brown does, like delivering documents for the town office (including posting copies of the town meeting warrant), could be done by others.

Budget committee member Donald Breton said select board members plan to update the police chief’s job description. Give us a year, he asked, to determine what the job should include and how much time it requires.

After a vote on the select board’s recommendation by a show of voting cards was too close for moderator Richard Thompson to call, he held a counted vote and ruled the recommendation was defeated.

Voters then approved the lower figure.

A voter’s motion to decrease the recreation budget by more than $14,000 was defeated by a lop-sided show of cards. Residents and officials said the expanded recreation program directed by China resident Karen Hatch is providing a variety of new programs for people of all ages.

Budget committee member Michael Poulin commended the “synergy” between the recreation department and the Vassalboro Public Library. Later in the meeting, school superintendent Alan Pfeiffer praised cooperation with Vassalboro Community School.

A third proposed expenditure that generated discussion was the request for funds for the China Region Lakes Alliance (CRLA), one item in Art. 26, which included $28,929 in requests from eight health and welfare agencies. For CRLA, the select board recommended $13,500; the budget committee recommended $7,500.

Holly Weidner, speaking for the Vassalboro Conservation Commission, said the money would be used to expand water quality protection programs for Webber Pond and Three Mile Pond. Vassalboro has participated in the Courtesy Boat Inspection program, intended to keep invasive plants out of Maine waters; other programs could offer advice and help in minimizing run-off and maintaining camp roads.

Weidner described CRLA as hired by the Conservation Commission to help that body “be proactive about preventing problems in our ponds.”

Voters approved the $13,500.

During a brief discussion before voters approved $66,285 for Delta Ambulance Service, Executive Director Timothy A. Beals explained that labor shortages, increasing costs and inadequate insurance reimbursements had compelled Delta to imitate other Maine ambulance services and begin charging a fee.

Of the 14 towns billed, only one, so far, had declined to pay, he said. Its contribution was small enough so the $15 per resident fee charged each town that does join remains unchanged.

Other articles were passed without discussion, individually, or, on motions by David Trask, in two large groups. One group, Articles 8 through 21, included smaller appropriations and a variety of authorizations for select board actions.

The other group, Articles 26 through 38, encompassed the entire $9 million 2023-24 school budget. Superintendent Pfeiffer spoke briefly; no one asked a question.

Budget committee members Donald Breton, William Browne, Phillip Landry, Peggy Schaffer and Dallas Smedberg were re-elected without challenge.

Close to 100 voters attended the meeting in the Vassalboro Community School gymnasium; it lasted slightly under two hours.

The town meeting continues with written-ballot voting on Tuesday, June 13, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the town office. Voters will be asked to:

• Approve or reject the school budget approved June 5;
• Approve or reject addition of a chapter dealing with commercial solar developments to the town land use ordinance; and
• Elect one select board member and two school board members for three-year terms.

Don and Lisa Breton presented with Spirit of America Award

At Vassalboro’s June 5 town meeting, retiring select board chairman Barbara Redmond presented this year’s Spirit of America award for volunteerism to Donald and Lisa Breton. She commended the Bretons for their fund-raising efforts for a variety of worthwhile projects in town, from the food pantry to the annual school supplies drive.