TOWN OF WESTPORT ISLAND, MAINE

WARRANT FOR THE JUNE 8 & 19, 2010 TOWN MEETING

 

State of Maine                                                                                           Lincoln, ss.

In the name of the State of Maine, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town of Westport Island; in said county qualified by law to vote in Town affairs to assemble at the Town Hall in said Town on Tuesday, the 8th day of June, AD, 2010, at 10:00 o’clock in the forenoon, and then and there to act on the following articles, to wit:

 

Article 1.          To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.

                       

Article 2.          The polls will be open at the Westport Island Town Hall on order of the Moderator and will close at eight o’clock in the evening for voting on the following:

                        To choose by secret ballot, a First Selectman for a term of three years, 2 Budget Committee members for three years, 2 Alternate Budget Committee members for three years, and a Road Commissioner for a term of three years.

                                                           

All other business under this warrant will be conducted upon the re-opening of the meeting on Saturday, June 19, 2010, at nine o’clock in the forenoon at the Westport Island Town Hall.

 

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

 

Article 3.          To see if the voters of the Town of Westport Island will approve the amended Westport Island Shoreland Zoning Ordinance as presented at a public hearing held March 8, 2010.

                       

                        (Note:  The Westport Island Shoreland Zoning Ordinance was last amended on June 20, 2009.  The Ordinance was sent to the Department of Environmental Protection and was given a conditional approval.  The required additional changes for final approval were included in a new draft and a public hearing was held on March 8, 2010.)

 

                        Recommended by the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen.

 

Article 4.          To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the following amounts for officers’ salaries and to set the same.

 

 

FY 2008-2009

FY 2009-2010

FY 2010-2011

1st Selectman

        3,330.00

          3,420.00

 

        3,420.00

2nd Selectman

     3,330.00

          3,420.00

        3,420.00

3rd Selectman

     3,330.00

          3,420.00

        3,420.00

Chair / Selectmen

     3,110.00

          3,195.00

        3,195.00

Assessing Support

     3,150.00

          3,500.00

        3,500.00

Tax Collector/Treasurer/Admin. (plus fees)

   23,083.00

        23,710.00

      23,710.00

Municipal Agent (plus fees)

   11,370.00

        11,680.00

      11,680.00

Town Clerk/Registrar of Voters (plus fees)

     4,665.00

          4,790.00

        4,790.00

Custodian

     2,070.00

          2,125.00

        2,125.00

Constable

        800.00

             820.00

           820.00

E-911 Addressing Officer

        800.00

             820.00

           820.00

EMA Director

       880.00

             900.00

           900.00

Harbor Master

       800.00

             820.00

           820.00

 

 

 

 

 

Health Officer

       285.00

             290.00

           290.00   

TOTAL

   $61,003.00

      $62,910.00

    $62,910.00


            Recommended by the Selectmen that salaries remain constant with last year.

                                    Recommended by the Budget Committee (5-0-1)

 

Article 5.          To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the employer portion of payroll taxes to be paid to the State of Maine and Social Security Administration for town employees.

            Selectmen recommend that $5,710.00 be raised.

            Recommended by the Budget Committee (5-0-1).

 

Article 6.          To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen, at their discretion and on behalf of the Town, to borrow $1,335,000.00 from the First, N.A. to cover the operating budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 and to execute a promissory note repayable over a five-year term at a fixed interest rate of 3.7%.

                                                                    

                                                                        Recommended by the Selectmen.

                                                            Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0)

 

                        Note:  The Town is substantially in arrears in tax billing and collection due to a change in fiscal year, unforeseen problems with the current tax assessing program, and the voters’ use of the undesignated fund balance to reduce the mil rate over the past several years.  As a result, each year the Town must obtain larger and larger tax anticipation loans, earlier and earlier, to meet its obligations.  The alternatives are limited:  (1) Assess 2 years worth of taxes in a single year, (2) continue to borrow more and earlier each year in anticipation of taxes, or (3) secure the one-time five-year loan described above.  The Selectmen believe this five-year loan is the most prudent and least painful alternative for the taxpayers of Westport Island.

 

Article 7.          To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate $154,598.00 for the first year’s debt service under the above described note with The First, N.A.

Recommended by the Selectmen.

                                                            Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0)

 

Article 8.          To see if the Town will vote to increase the property tax levy limit of $274,907.60 established for Westport Island by State law in the event that the municipal budget approved under these articles will result in a tax commitment that is greater than that property tax levy limit.

                                                           

                                                            Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0)

            Recommended by the Selectmen

 

Article 9.         To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for a Maine Certified Assessor to update assessment factors based on current values and handle assessments on new construction, land splits, transfers, state valuation returns and LD1; and for consultation with taxpayers, preparation and court time as required.

                                   

                        This to be paid to the Maine Certified Assessor at the rate of $50.00 per hour.  His estimate is 300 hours.  Invoices shall include the hours charged.

 

                          Recommended by the Selectmen that $5,000.00 be carried forward and $10,000.00 be raised.

                                                Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article 10.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the Boards and Committees to pay operating expenses including publication of newsletters and flyers, and to reimburse members for their out-of-pocket expenses.

                                                                                     Approved        Raise                Carry                                                                                                                                                                   2009-10        2010-11          Forward

CEO

100.00

100.00

0.00

Board of Appeals

100.00

450.00

0.00

Budget Committee

300.00

0.00

0.00

EMA

100.00

100.00

0.00

Health Officer

50.00

0.00

0.00

Ground Water Protection Committee

1,000.00

0.00

1,000.00

Wright Property Committee

100.00

0.00

 100.00

Planning Board

466.62

340.00

260.00

Digital Tax Map Committee

1,000.00

      125 00

0.00

Cemetery Committee

     200.00

0.00

184.00

 

 

 

 

 

$3,416.62

$1,115.00

$1,544.00

           

Recommended by the Selectmen that $1,544.00 be carried forward and $1,115.00 be raised for a total of $2,659.00.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 11.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for operation and minor maintenance of the Town Hall and for the Town Hall Reserve Account.

 

Selectmen and Town Hall Committee recommend that a total of $6,000.00 be raised; $3,500.00 for operation and $2,500.00 for the reserve account, and that the $4,854.00 (plus accumulated interest) that was transferred to Municipal Building Major Repair Reserve Account last year be returned to the Town Hall Reserve Account.

                                                                 Recommended by the Budget Committee (5-1).  

 

Article 12.        To see if the Town will vote to transfer $4,200.00 from the Municipal Building Major Repair Reserve Account to the Town Office Building Reserve Account.

                                               

           Recommended by the Selectmen.

            Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 13.        To see what sum the town will raise and appropriate for the History Committee to continue the assembly and preservation of historical town records.

 

Selectmen and History Committee recommend that $257.00 be carried forward and $393.00 be raised.

                                                           Recommended by Budget Committee (6-0).

 

 Article 14.       To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for committee members to be covered under the blanket insurance package provided through the Maine Municipal Association.

 

Recommended by the Selectmen that $320 be raised to cover approximately 80 committee members.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article 15.        To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to apply for, accept, and expend, additional grant funds from the State, or other sources, for conservation or other approved projects on Westport Island.  As most grants require a share of matching funds from the Town, $5,000.00 be raised and set aside in a fund for such grant matches. No new project matches shall exceed $5,000 without voter approval. Unexpended funds will be carried forward in a Reserve account for grants for “Land for Westport Island’s Future” or other Town approved projects.

 

                        Recommended by the Selectmen that $5,000.00 be carried forward and $5,000.00 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (5-1).

 

Article 16.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the Municipal Landing Account loan at The First, N.A.

 

                                                Recommended by the Selectmen that $27,673.00 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 17.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the Conservation Commission

to pay operating expenses for conservation activities, including study of conservation opportunities, trail work, maintenance of Clough Point Town Preserve, publication of newsletters and flyers, clean-up day and reimburse members for their our-of-pocket expenses.

 

Recommended by the Selectmen and the Conservation Commission that $621.00 be carried forward and $679.00 be raised for a total of $1,300.00.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 18.        To see if the Town will authorize the Conservation Commission to develop an Open Space Plan for the Town, as a needed step toward an update to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and to see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate.

 

                        Recommended by the Conservation Commission that $600.00 be raised and appropriated.

                                                                Not recommended by the Selectmen.

                                                            Recommended by the Budget Committee (5-1).

 

Article 19.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the operation of the Town Office and maintenance of the Town Office Building:

 

 

FY 2009-2010

 

FY 2010-2011

Advertising and Public Notices

$1,000.00

 

$500.00

Computer Tech Support

$4,000.00

 

$4,440.00

Dues & Books

$200.00

 

$200.00

Election Expenses

$3,000.00

 

$3,000.00

Insurance

$15,000.00

 

$15,000.00

Lien Filing & Discharging Costs

$1,500.00

 

$1,800.00

Office Supplies & General Expenses

$3,000.00

 

$3,000.00

Payroll Taxes

$7,000.00

 

*

Postage

$2,500.00

 

$1,500.00

Annual Town Report & Meeting

$2,500.00

 

$1,440.00

Training

$500.00

 

$400.00

Electricity

$1,200.00

 

$1,200.00

Heat

$2,000.00

 

$1,100.00

Maintenance

$900.00

 

$1,500.00

Telephone

$1,300.00

 

$1,400.00

Building Security

$288.00

 

$288.00

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

$46,188.00

 

$36,768.00

                        *Separate Article.

                       

Recommended by the Selectmen we carry forward $4,195.00 and raise $32,573.00.                                                 Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 20.        To see if the Town will vote to carry forward the balance of $8,085.00 in the Software Reserve Account for the purchase of the “Trio” Assessing Module.

 

                                                                        Recommended by the Selectmen.

                                                            Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).         

 

Article 21.        To see if the Town will vote to transfer $560.00 from Excise Taxes for maintenance for improvements to the North End Road on the Prescriptive Easement Portion, along with $280.00 from the Clough Point Fund and raise $1400.00 from the residents on the Prescriptive Easement Portion of said road.

                                                              

                                                                        Recommended by the Selectmen.

                                                            Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 22.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the Capital Equipment Purchases Account for town office equipment.          

                       

Recommended by the Selectmen to carry forward the amount of $3,154.00.

            Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 23.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for membership in the Maine Municipal Association.

 

                                                    Recommended by the Selectmen that $1,180.00 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 24.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for contingent expenses, and to authorize the Selectmen to transfer funds to other accounts as necessary.

 

                                    Recommended by the Selectmen to carry forward $9,500.00 and raise $500.00.

                                 Recommended by the Budget Committee to have a total of $10,000 available (6-0).                  

 

Article 25.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for a legal fund to be used on approval by the Board of Selectmen.

Recommended by the Selectmen that $10,000.00 be raised.

         Recommended by the Budget Committee to have a total of $10,000 available (6-0).                

 

Article 26.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the town’s share of the Wiscasset Transfer Station operating expenses, and to authorize the Selectmen to negotiate and enter into a contract with the Town of Wiscasset on such terms as they deem to be in the best interest of the Town.

                                                Selectmen recommend the contracted price of $74,220.00 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

 

 

HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND SNOW REMOVAL

 

Article 27.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the Snow Removal and procurement of sand and salt.

                       

                        Recommended by the Selectmen that $73,400.00 for contracted services and $18,500.00 for sand and salt be allocated from motor vehicle excise tax.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 28.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for maintenance of Town Roads and Bridges.

 

Recommended by Selectmen that $10,000.00 be carried forward, $40,000.00 be transferred from the State Highway Account, and $15,000 be allocated from motor vehicle excise tax.

                                    Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).           

 

Article 29.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for paving as recommended by the Road Commissioner.

 

Recommended by the Selectmen that $10,000.00 be carried forward from the reserve account, $5,000.00 be transferred from the State Highway Account and $10,000.00 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

PROTECTION

 

Article 30.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the Westport Volunteer Fire Department.

 

                        The Westport Volunteer Fire Department requests that the sum of $12,000.00 be raised; $6,000.00 for direct payment, and $6,000.00 for direct purchases.

 

   Recommended by the Selectmen and the Fire Department.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 31.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the Fire Truck reserve fund.  This amount will be added to the Fire Truck Reserve Fund.

 

Recommended by the Fire Department and Selectmen that the sum of $15,000.00 be raised.

                                                            Recommended by the Budget Committee.

 

Article 32.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the training of residents in approved emergency medical technician courses. Trainees must make a suitable commitment to serve the Town of Westport Island.

 

                        Recommended by the Selectmen and the Fire Department that the balance of $1,698.45 be carried forward and $301.55 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article 33.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the fire department to be covered under the blanket insurance package provided through the Maine Municipal Association.

 

Recommended by the Selectmen and Fire Department that $840.00 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

GENERAL ASSISTANCE/SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Article 34.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for Support of the Poor.

Recommended by the Selectmen that $1,685.46 be carried forward and $314.54 be raised.

Recommended by the Budget Committee (6-0).

 

Article 35.        To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for each of the following Service Organizations:

                                                                                                                                                   

Raised  09-10

    Requested 10-11

New Hope for Women, Inc.

$710.00

$710.00

ME MidCoast Community Action

$420.00

$420.00

Sweetser

$924.00

$924.00

American Red Cross

0.00

$500.00

Elmhurst

$800.00

$1,000.00

Healthy Kids

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

Lincoln County Animal Shelter

$330.00

$330.00

MidCoast Mental Health Center

$745.00

0.00

Wiscasset Library

$9,200.00

$9,200.00

Coastal Transportation

$400.00

$400.00

Wiscasset Community Center

$8,000.00

$8,000.00  

Senior Spectrum

$701.00

$701.00

TOTAL

$23,230.00

$23,185.00


MISCELLANEOUS

Article 36.        To see if the Town will vote to set a date when taxes are due and payable and when interest shall accrue and establish an interest rate for delinquent taxes.

Recommended by the Selectmen that taxes be due and payable on July 15, 2010, and that interest accrue on taxes not paid by August 15, 2010 at the rate of 5.5% per annum (maximum allowed is 7.00%).

 

Article 37.        To see if the Town will vote to authorize the selectmen to dispose of tax acquired property according to state statutes. (Note: This article is required by State Law.)

 

                                    Recommended by the Selectmen

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article 38.        Motion to adjourn.

 

The Registrar of Voters will be available at the Town Meeting to correct any error in, or to change the name or address on the voting list, and to accept the registration of any person eligible to vote and to accept new enrollments.

 

You are hereby directed to serve this by posting at the Town Hall at least seven days before said meeting. Therefore fail not, and have the Warrant with your doings thereon at the above place and time.

 

Given under our hands this           day of May, 2010.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Board of Selectmen of Westport Island

 

 

 

 

George D. Richardson, Jr.                               

 

 

 

Gerald A. Bodmer                              

 

 

 

Ross A. Norton

 

 

Attest:  Amos R. Greenleaf, Constable

Record by:  Pamela Frenier, Town Clerk