FAYETTE – For such a little town, Fayette has some awfully big challenges.
Among them are a series of administrative problems to overcome in the next few weeks. As of June 30, this town’s planning board will consist of only two members, one short of the number needed to review and approve articles.
However, the town’s troubles aren’t limited to the planning board. The education budget also failed to gain voters’ approval at the June 17 town meeting, forcing the school board to reconsider several expenses.
In addition to these problems, Superintendent/Principal Wilma T. Lombardi unexpectedly resigned, without a permanent replacement to take over.
The planning board problem arose after Chairman Diane Polky was elected as a selectwoman, requiring her to leave the board. Two other selectmen, Dave Pollock and Art Lemay, chose not to seek reappointment when their terms expire on June 30. This leaves only two members on the five-person board, one less than the minimum required by law.
Town Manager Mark Robinson said that after June 30, unless additional applicants can be found, the planning board will effectively “cease to exist” and that those seeking approval for zoning or building matters will have “little choice but to wait.”
On June 19, selectmen attempted to introduce a new procedure that would allow them to also serve on the planning board. That would be legal, according to Maine state law.
Unfortunately for the town, it was discovered that there existed a more restrictive local ordinance forbidding selectmen from holding both their own and a planning board seat. A special meeting of both boards was held on June 26, to rescind the previous motion.
Robinson acknowledges the hardships of the position, saying that the shortage is due mostly to “dedicated volunteers burning out.
“It’s a tough job, a lot to ask of volunteers,” he said, “But we really need to see more people come to the table.”
Robinson remains optimistic that residents will step forward before the next planning board meeting on July 5, noting that at least one potential applicant has already come forward.
He did not rule out the possibility of eventually removing the ordinance disallowing selectmen on the planning board. One of the two remaining planning board members, Tammy Rose, agreed that serving on the board was “a lot of work” but she also said that she found it “fascinating.”
“If we could get a few more people to serve on the board,” Rose said, “we could set up a rotation. Then it wouldn’t be so much work.”
In other matters, the school board’s proposed 2006-2007 budget failed to gain the approval of voters at the town meeting on June 17. Residents cited a variety of reasons for voting to rework the budget, which had neither the support of selectmen nor the budget committee. The budget, which was nearly $1.9 million, was 10.4 percent more than the previous year, according to Michael Ventrella, a school board member.
Ventrella remained confident that a new budget would be created that would satisfy all parties. He noted that in a meeting last week, the school board was able to cut more than $25,000 of the budget. The cuts were mostly in the administration and guidance departments, and Ventrella expected additional cuts over the next couple of weeks. A special town meeting will be held at a date to be announced for residents to vote on the new budget.
Lombardi, who had served as both the town’s superintendent as well as principal for the last five years, resigned with one year remaining on her contract. The decision caught some members of the school board by surprise.
Ventrella said it was “unfortunate” that the board agreed to pay Lombardi $22,000 in severance pay, as well as extend her benefits until the end of the year. Ventrella said that an interim administrator, most likely former Superintendent Brian Coulthard, will fill the position until a replacement can be found.
Comments are no longer available on this story