PARIS – Saturday’s town meeting was cordial, and all articles passed with little dissent. Only article 19 received significant revision and debate.
The budget committee had reduced the Growth Council of Oxford Hills’ $10,000 request to $2,500. Several committee members said that the reason for this was dissatisfaction over Growth Council President Brett Downey’s salary and lack of adequate communication between the council and the town.
Selectman Gerald Kilgore said that 12 years ago, when the Growth Council was first funded, they said they would be self-supporting in three years. He told the voters, “I am not just shelling out your money.” He insisted that the council would have to keep the town better informed about its plans and actions.
Budget Committee member Brett Downey made an impassioned plea to add $7,500 to the article to fund the requested $10,000. He said that after the committee vote he did additional research on the Growth Council. He said the town has gotten much more than its money’s worth from the council, as it has been very effective in getting new businesses to relocate to and other improvements along the highway 26 corridor. He said that while Downey’s salary was substantial, he was much sought after by other communities because of his effectivness.
When informed by Town Manager Sharon Jackson that “this is not a line-item budget and adding funds doesn’t mean how it is spent unless the selectmen agree,” selectmen were quick to respond.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Raymond Glover said, “I will certainly not vote against the will of the people.”
Selectman Barbara Payne said, “When the legislative body (the town meeting) speaks, I listen.”
Moderator Vern Mansfield said he would allow an amendment to the article specifying that the Growth Council was to be fully funded. The amendment was made, and the article passed.
More than 30 minutes were taken to fully discuss this $121,350 article and the $7,500 increase to it. Less than 15 minutes were taken to approve the next nine articles appropriating more than $2,575,000.
Article 2, for a $450,000 repaving project to include a new sidewalk, also elicited significant discussion, though only limited disagreement. According to SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman, this project was voted down last year because of mistaken information that if the town rejected the measure, the state would pick up the entire cost, not just two-thirds of it.
Paris police Officer David Verrier and others spoke on the improved safety for children walking to school for class or for recreation. Mike Brown pointed out that while the school board thought the sidewalk was critical, it could not fund it.
Most discontent seemed to be aimed at the fact that the state DOT, not the Paris residents, would have the final word on which side of the road the sidewalk would be placed.
Fire Chief Brad Frost explained the need to replace 32-year-old Engine 5. This engine, purchased new in 1974, needs major repairs and replacement of its water tank and other components. There was no opposition to buying the new engine. Discussion centered on the wording of the article and how the engine would be financed.
Article 3 asked if the town could purchase a new fire engine for $300,000 or less. No money was requested for this year, although the town will need to appropriate $36,000 per year over the next 10 years to keep up payments on the lease purchase plan for the engine. If the engine were purchased for cash it would add approximately 3 mills to the tax rate, according to Jackson. The new engine will be in service in 182 days.
Article 12 asked the town to waive the automatic foreclosure on tax liens against the A.C. Lawrence Leather Co. Inc. Town Clerk Betty Larson explained that this article has come up every year since 1985 because the town does not want to inherit the environmental problems on this old manufacturing site.
The meeting was opened by Girl Scout Troop 2230 leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Pastor Shirley Miller of the Universalistic Church giving the invocation. It closed with a plea that Paris residents participate in upcoming community visioning sessions so that the new comprehensive plan can represent community goals.
Comments are no longer available on this story