ROCKLAND — Three candidates, Harold G. Perry, Larry Pritchett and Louise MacLellan-Ruf, are competing for two seats on the Rockland City Council. In an effort to better understand their goals and philosophies, Penobscot Bay Pilot sent them all a list of the same questions via email. What follows are their responses, as they have returned them. As soon as Pritchett’s arrives, we will post his responses, as well.

Harold G. Perry

I am Harold G. Perry and I am running For Rockland City Council. I have lived in Rockland for 13 years. I work at Oceanside West in a behavior program. I have been involved in numerous programs. From these groups I learned skills in the following area collaboration, policy development being a good listener and I different approach to problem solving. I stand up to my convictions on the city council and for the concerns of the citizens of Rockland. I am running on a platform of fiscal responsibility preservation conservation and integrity. I want our tax dollars to be used carefully and wisely. There are many critical challenges that obviously have not been resolved. I will listen to your concerns and the concerns of the community through town hall meetings neighborhood meetings whatever it takes. You will be heard.

What are Rockland greatest strengths, and how do you hope to maintain them?

Our residents are our city’s greatest strengths. We are a community of caring people as evidence by the number of volunteer organization and residents dedicated to making our city a better place to live and thrive. By listing to the residents of Rockland.

What are Rockland’s greatest issues and problems to address?

Three Rockland candidates are vying for two open seats on the Rockland City Council. Penobscot Bay Pilot asked them a set of questions via email; here are their complete answers.

Louise D. MacLellan-Ruf


Larry Pritchett

Property taxes, school budget, not having money in the budget to close the landfill closure some of our roads need to be paved and sidewalks need to be fixed. These are just a few.

I want to be able to keep Rockland residents in their homes. I want to make sure we keep the property taxes down. When people cannot pay their property taxes it a sad day for Rockland. A few weeks ago there there was 190 homes and business with tax liens.

With the school budget we need to work closure with RSU 13.

Landfill Closure: it will be closed in three to four years and it will cost about $3 million to $ 3.5 million and we have $635,284 in the account right now. We will need about $230,000 for care once we close it. (maintenance) When talking to people some of their concerns where the roads they live on. Not state roads.

How would you like to see Camden Street develop or redevelop?

I would like to see more small business, like a men’s clothing store and a good shoe store, not a national chain store. I want our development and redevelopment and revitalization challenges to be carefully and compatible with sustainable building practices and the wish of the community.

How do you envision Rockland to be 10 years from now, and do you want City Hall to move back downtown?

I want Rockland to keep its unique qualities and its sense of community. Also make sure the residents are able to live in their house.

As for the City hall moving down town, my concern is how are we going to pay for it. What would be the cost? We know that the park downtown is not that great.         

How much more can we as a city bond out? There is talk about bonding out for a new public garage for $2.4 million and $7 million for RSU 13 for a new wing at Oceanside East. Also there is a bond issue on the Nov. 5ballot for $586,000 for a sand and salt shed.

Do you want Amtrak to extend to Rockland, and if so, what will you do to make this happen?

I would like to see Amtrak come to Rockland. But what concerns me is the cost to do it. I would be willing to seat down with the people from Amtrak and the State of Maine Department of Transportation to discuss it. Also have the Citizens of Rockland be there to ask questions.

Can the city council make substantive changes to the school funding formula, and if so, would you work with other communities to make that happen in Augusta?

The city cannot make changes to the school funding formula. Would need to talk to our state representative and state senator. I would be more than happy to work with all the people involved in this to lower the funding formula.

Do you endorse Many Flags, and if so, how would you like to see Many flags manifest?

The problem with Many Flags is the cost. The State of Maine does not have the money to do this right now. We need to know what the cost to Rockland would be. Also this is something that needs to be planned out and not rush into it.

Do you support the continued expansion of the harbor trail?

Yes But we need to able to come up with the money at no cost to the citizens of Rockland. But I think there are more important things to do first.

How do you see Rockland fitting into the greater regional economy and culture, and how would you like to develop that?

We as a city would fit in well. We need to work with the State of Maine tourism and the local chamber to make sure we do a good job to bring in the people to Rockland.

Do you have thoughts about bringing natural gas to Rockland? Is it necessary? Are there alternative energy prospect that you’d like to see cultivated?

I would like to see natural gas in Rockland it would be good for residents natural gas is the best energy choice for people. It promotes energy independence. There is abundant domestic supply and is one of the safest and, most reliable sources of heating. We need to look at the lighting on Main Street. We rent the lights for a cost of about $170,000 to lease them that is another thing we need to look out.

I do have a few ideas I would like to see us consolidate (maybe that a bad word) when department head retire or leave, I would like to see us with our neighboring towns to fill these positions. For example, the city of Waterville and Winslow share the fire department. There are towns up North that share the same public works. If this works in other city and towns, we as a city need to look into it. The city fees for small business are very high. If a person wanted to put in a fruit stand the cost would be $750 just to go thought the process. (for zone change). When asked where the money goes no one had a clear answer. I would like the city council to take a look at this and see if we can do something about it.

Tax dollars need to lower mill rate? We need to bring in $4.5 million increase in valuation to drop one mil rate or reduce budget $787,748 to drop 1 mill rate.

The mil rate for 2013-2014 is $19.52 per $1,000. The budget pie has 45.6 percent of taxes going to the city;  49.9 percent to the school, and 4.5 percent to the county.

Property Taxes Abatement

As many as 60 percent of properties across the country are over assessed. The National Taxpayers Union says the majority of homeowners win at least a partial victory. Once you receive your property tax assessment and realize it’s to high you need to move quickly. Because the window for appeals is usually very short. Follow the tax office appeal instructions to a T.

Look for Errors.

1. The tax assessor made a mistake in describing your house.

2. You just brought the house for less.

3. The assessor made poor comparisons. In valuing your house. The assessor put a value on your house by using comparable that aren’t well comparable.

Closing

A councilor needs to be able to communicate with people and have the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances in dealing with city issues. If you have any questions please email at hal002@gwi.net or 594-7071

Please Vote for (Hal) Harold G Perry on Nov. 5, 2013.

https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/rockland-city-council-candidate-larry-pritchett/23378