MONMOUTH – Approximately 30 percent of people here went to the polls Tuesday to vote on everything from a new school bus to the library’s annual budget.
It was the first time in the town’s history that people cast their votes secretly, hidden behind curtains as they penciled in answers to 32 questions on the town warrant.
Until this year, Monmouth – like most small Maine towns – made decisions about spending and other business at an annual meeting where townspeople discussed every question, then raised their hands to show their support or disapproval.
The change is the result of a petition circulated last year calling for the abolishment of the open-forum voting system.
Voters approved the change last November by a vote of 1,356 to 816.
Seven months later, many claim they didn’t understand the question posed to them last fall. They thought the town would still hold a town meeting, where they would record their votes on paper as opposed to raising their hand.
Some remained angry Tuesday about the loss of tradition while others were thrilled they could finally cast their votes without wasting an entire Saturday.
Of the town’s 3,298 registered voters, 809 cast ballots, 403 went to the polls set up at Cumston Hall, and 406 voted through absentee ballots.
It was one of the best turnouts in years, said Town Manager Jason Simcock. “There are still people who will weigh the advantages and disadvantages, but it all comes down to how the town wants to vote.”
“I think it’s absolutely great,” said Elizabeth Urquhart, who has lived in town for 12 years. “It opens the doors for more people to give their opinion on how our money is spent.”
Emerging from a voting booth after nearly 20 minutes, Larry Palleschi had a different point of view.
“I like the atmosphere of the town meeting,” he said. “It’s fun to go and watch the personalities.”
Leanne Yeaton Burnham, who grew up in Monmouth and returned three years ago, can see both sides.
“In a town like Monmouth that is so based on tradition, it’s disheartening and disappointing to so many townspeople,” she said. “But the benefit is you get so many more people voting.”
In addition to the annual budgets for the town’s various departments, taxpayers voted in favor of a new school bus for not more than $65,000.
The town also voted 398-389, giving officials the green light to spend no more than $150,000 for the Academy Street highway garage addition.
The Planning Board received the ax when its $18,350 budget was cut drastically, leaving selectmen to submit another later. “We are not exactly sure where we are going from here on this,” Simcock said. “But the board will meet tomorrow night to see how this will be dealt with. The Planning Board is reliant on its budget a great deal to help match funds.”
The North Monmouth Library’s $6,125 budget was voted down.
Nick P. Angelides contributed to this story.
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