RUMFORD – Residents on July 18 will have a chance to reaffirm or overturn an original vote made at the annual town meeting last month.
At the June town meeting, an overwhelming majority of those attending approved raising about $120,000 more than the state had recommended under L.D. 1, which aims to lower property taxes. Article 1 of the special town meeting warrant states that the limit imposed by the state for budget year 2005-06 is $4,837,594. To meet the financial obligations approved by voters at the town meeting, an additional $120,000 is needed.
Soon after the meeting, some residents pointed out to Town Manager Steve Eldridge that the vote should have been taken by secret ballot.
A couple of weeks after the annual town meeting, Eldridge said that apparently the change in state statute from a hand vote to a secret ballot vote had gotten by him and the town’s lawyer.
He assumed responsibility for the oversight, adding that he had read of the possible change in the Maine Townsmen magazine, but then forgot about it.
If voters again approve the $120,000 additional tax levy, then the current year’s budget will go into effect as planned. If not, he said another special town meeting will have to be held to make $120,000 in cuts to the budget.
Voters will also be asked at a special town meeting set for 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building Auditorium to authorize the town to enter into an agreement with the Maine Rural Development Authority for up to $500,000 to build two buildings in the town’s new business park located on Route 108.
Eldridge said late last month that the town would serve as a pass-through for the low- interest money for two businesses that have expressed interest in relocating to the business park. One of the businesses is World Wide Language Resources that is currently located on River and Congress streets. Eldridge declined to name the second interested business.
Two other articles ask for voter approval to apply for two, $50,000 grants that would go toward the town’s planned River Park and trail system.
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