PARIS — Two ad hoc committees looking to move Paris forward met last week to see what changes they can bring to the town.

The Paris Revitalization Committee and Paris Renewal Committee met Thursday, Oct. 1 at Market Square Restaurant. It was decided the two committees will remain separate for the time being as their missions don’t exactly align right now.

The Revitalization Committee “is to serve as focal group to develop and promote the town of Paris as a business and family friendly community,” and has three main goals. They include developing an Introduction to Paris guide for potential business owners, preparing a Welcome Wagon package for prospective residents and looking into and creating economic stimulus programs.

The Renewal Committee wants to lower the town’s mil rate through a citizens’ petition brought forth by resident and business owner Scott Buffington. It would cap the tax rate to the state average and require 50 percent of the town’s voters to override exceeding that average.

At last week’s selectmen’s meeting, the board did not move the petition to referendum on the ballot or to special town meeting, but instead decided to have town officials cut $500,000 from the current budget. Selectmen estimated moving to the weighted state mil rate would require between $1.2 million and $1.5 million shaved from the current budget. The Renewal Committee wants to cut $1 million.

“The thing that frustrated me the most is our democratic process … failed. … I really think we should have had the opportunity to vote on it and not assume we’re not educated enough to make that decision on our own,” Buffington said at the joint committee meeting. “This petition to me is not just about cutting my property taxes. It’s positioning the town to be competitive with the towns around us.”

Attorney Sarah Glynn said she emailed the town’s attorney to get a better understanding as to why the petition isn’t valid. She also had video conference scheduled with her law professor to see if the interpretation is correct.

“I don’t see how the statue he referenced … applies to the petition,” she said.

Business owner Dennis Creaser said he was a firm believer in contingency plans. He wanted a back up plan in case the citizens’ petition remains invalid. He and his wife, Julie, came up with the idea of implementing a three-year plan that would cut $500,000 the first year, $300,000 the second year and $200,000 the third. That way the $1 million mark would be reached, but it might be easier for people to swallow.

Buffington reiterated his desire to make Paris more competitive with Oxford and Norway, which both have lower mil rates.

“It’s a decade long process,” he said. “I think if you’re going to take your medicine, you take it right up front.”

In looking at doing business cheaper in Paris, Renewal Committee members will get figures from Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant on utilizing his police service in town. They decided there are three basic options for the future of the Paris Police Department, which includes keeping it, contracting with the sheriff’s department for a fixed amount or pay nothing and have that fee spread across the 35 municipalities in Oxford County.
Revitalization Committee member Jacqueline Lynch asked if they could form a citizens advisory committee to sit down with the selectboard and Budget Committee to go through the budget line by line. Glynn thought it was a good idea to have potential cuts ready to share with selectmen and town administration later this month when it comes time to look the reduced budget.

A future meeting has not yet been set for either committee.

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