Vassalboro select board discusses town recreational program future

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro select board members began their March 20 meeting with a short discussion of the town recreation program, since resident Michael Phelps had attended the meeting to hear about it.

Now that Community Program Director Karen Stankis has resigned, town officials are pondering whether to continue the program they approved in 2022, go back to youth sports only or develop a new option.

Select board members proposed continued discussion at the March 25 budget committee meeting and at their April 3 meeting. They agreed on one point: cooperation between the town and the school, which has included sharing facilities, ought to continue.

The major items on the March 20 agenda were continued discussion of the town’s personnel policy and a review of the fund policy.

The personnel policy, which has been discussed at multiple meetings since the spring of 2024, will be reviewed once more and forwarded to the town’s attorney for his review. Board members hope to have it ready to take effect July 1.

Discussion of the fund policy included consideration of the shortage of available money in late summer: Vassalboro’s quarterly taxes are paid at the end of September, November, February and April, leaving a five-month gap.

Town Manager Aaron Miller does not expect any financial problems before the September taxes come in.

Board members considered briefly rearranging tax due dates. Action, if any, was postponed until another discussion at the April 3 select board meeting, with auditor Ron Smith, head of RHR Smith & Company, invited to participate if he is available.

In other business March 20:

— Board members unanimously approved closing the transfer station on Easter Sunday, April 20.
— Miller said the technician who planned to make repairs to the town office boiler advised replacing it instead, as he feared one repair would merely lead to another and another. Miller will seek quotes for a replacement.

The next regular Vassalboro select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3.