Town Meeting 2022: Candidates, Warrant Articles, Budgets
June is when Maine citizens weigh how much to spend on school budgets, and polls are open in many towns for voters to cast ballots on other municipal business.
While individual municipalities hold their annual meetings at various times during the year (some are in March, others in May, still others in June), a number of them now hold town meetings soon after the June elections are held.
This year, June 14 is the day for local elections and secret ballot articles on ordinance amendments, as well as school budgets and state primaries for political office.
Cranesport LLC Tannery development not a viable project
Tannery proposal will provide so much to the town
Michael Mullins circulates letter, voter information concerning Camden Tannery project proposal
CAMDEN — Camden voters have two Tannery-specific warrant articles before them June 14 at annual town meeting, business that is to be voted on at the polls, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the fire station on Washington Street.
Warrant articles 15 and 16 have engendered a lot of debate in Camden, as citizens are to decide how to proceed determining the future of the… Read more
The important Camden votes on June 14
It’s been almost a year since I argued in this blog that we should “Keep Camden Directly Democratic.” Direct democracy isn’t efficient or easy. But at its best, this bottom-up approach of direct citizens participation through town meetings and citizens committees, of which Camden has been so justifiably proud for so long, can provide a critical path to overcoming the divisiveness that so plagues our… Read more
Biker gangs, Uvalde P.D. and the Thomaston Select Board. Same disease, different towns
Disrespect for the ideas enshrined in our Constitution can be found in Uvalde, Texas and right here in Thomaston, Maine.
This past week, in an effort to minimize damage from what is being described as the greatest dereliction of duty in American policing history, the publicly funded Uvalde Police, lead by the now impossible to locate for comment and newest member of the Uvalde City Council, Chief Pete Arredondo, coordinated with a motorcycle gang to physically prevent reporters for… Read more
Are the voters being duped about Thomaston Green?
Much has been said and written about the Thomaston Green.
The late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famous saying, “everyone has the right to their own opinion but they do not have the right to their own facts,” seems to have a fit here.
What I am referring to is the discussion of having a much needed fire station on the Thomaston Green. Question 4 proponents have repeatedly led the voters to believe this can take place as a part of their warrant article.
These… Read more
Tom Hedstrom: ‘Make choices based on what you believe, not what others believe, is best for Camden’
The Thomaston Green
On June 14, Thomaston voters will choose between Articles 3 and 4 on the town warrant. Passage of Article 3 will “allow the Town to determine the future use” of the Thomaston Green. Passage of Article 4 will “permanently dedicate the 15.6-acre parcel for use as a public park for recreational and community events and related infrastructure.”
The Yes-on-4 folks appear concerned that the town will not continue to preserve a significant portion of the site as green space for use by the… Read more
Vote for Marc Ratner for Camden Select Board
We ask you to vote for Marc Ratner for Camden Selectboard member.
He has worked on Board for two terms, understands the workings of the Town of Camden intimately, the eccentricities and details, and has a broad overview of what is needed, both in infrastructure and the human systems. He works, with respect and devotion, with several town committees and the particular town problems that need attention, with considerable success, He is consistant and judicious, fiscally careful,… Read more
Voting for continuity on the Rockport Select Board
I am writing in support of Denise Munger for another term on the Rockport Select Board. It has been a pleasure to get to know Denise through her work with the town of Rockport over the past three years. I have been nothing short of impressed with her enthusiasm in her role on the Board and dedication to the people of Rockport.
Denise values input from Rockport residents and is open and responsive to community concerns. She not only serves on the Select Board but on a variety of other… Read more
Town Meetings, Municipal and School Budgets, Warrants and Candidates
Below are area municipalities holding elections and town meetings in June
APPLETON
Annual Town Meeting, June 14, by Secret Ballot, Appleton Fire Station, 2899 Sennebec Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The warrant includes a Site Plan Review Ordinance, Proposed sale of town-owned land, Select Board stipend pay, municipal budget
CAMDEN
Annual Town Meeting, June 14, Camden Public Safety Building, by secret ballot, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
All Camden ballots, including Five Town CSD and SAD 28 budgets, can be found here.
Camden-Rockport, Five Town CSD to hold public input budget meetings March 21
Camden Select Board Candidates
Stephanie French
Thomas Hedstrom
Robert Lawson
Marc Ratner
HOPE
Voters in Hope with go to the polls June 14 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to consider candidates for Select Board (three candidates are running for two open seats: Bruce Haffner, Michael Schultz and Charles Weidman). Then, on June 16, citizens will gather at the Hope Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. for annual town meeting.
Two candidates for vying for one seat on the Hope School Committee Board: Jacob Eichenlaub and Nicholas O’Hara.
LINCOLNVILLE
Lincolnville voters will got to the polls June 14, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Lincolnville Central School, to consider two school budgets, and a municipal ballot that features two Select Board candidates — incumbent Jordan Barnett-Parker and Stephen Hand – vying for one open seat. The municipal ballot also features open seats on various committees and boards with no candidates.
On June 16, citizens will gather at 6 p.m. at the Lincolnville Central School for Annual Town Meeting and to consider the town’s 2022-2023 proposed budget and a warrant that includes term limits for Select Board members of not more than three consecutive three-year terms.
NORTHPORT
Voting on the town’s municipal ballot will take place at the Northport Town Office, June 4, beginning at 8 a.m., to elect select board and school board candidates,
Annual Town Meeting will then continue on June 6, at the Edna Drinkwater School Basketball Court, 6:30 p.m. There, the townspeople will consider amendments to the town’s building and shoreland zoning ordinances, as well as municipal and school budgets.
ROCKPORT
Rockport’s Annual Town Meeting will take place over two days, beginning June 14 at the polls, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., when voters will consider the Five Town CSD and School Administrative District 28 budgets, as well as two candidates vying for one three-year seat on the Select Board.
On June 15, citizens will gather at the Rockport Opera House, 7 p.m., for Annual Town Meeting to consider ordinance amendments and the municipal budget.
Rockport Select Board Candidates
Jim Annis
Denise Munger
Rockport Municipal Warrant and Budget
U.S. Cellular pushes for Rockport ordinance change to erect 145-foot monopole
Camden-Rockport, Five Town CSD to hold public input budget meetings March 21
Annual Town Meeting, June 18, Town Office (Downstairs), 9 a.m.
Stockton Springs citizens will consider amendments to the town’s land use ordinance, and its Coastal Waters and Harbor Ordinance.
THOMASTON
Thomaston’s Annual Town Meeting will take place over two days, beginning June 14 at the polls, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Thomaston Municipal Building (former Lura Libby School) where voters will consider electing two Select Board members for three-year terms, one Board of Assessors member for a three-year term, and one RSU 13 School Board member.
On June 15, citizens will gather at the Thomaston Municipal Building at 6 p.m. for annual Town Meeting and consider a municipal budget and a warrant that includes a land swap with George C. Hall and Sons, Inc., which would enable construction of workforce housing, a citizens’ initiative to dedicate the Thomaston Green for public park use, several land use ordinance amendments, as well as several other municipal ordinance amendments.
Thomaston has collected all of its Town Meeting business material, ordinance amendments, etc., on this page.
Union’s Annual Town Meeting will take place over two days, beginning June 14 at the polls, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the William L. Pullen Municipal Building Meeting Room, where voters will consider electing two Select Board members for three-year terms, one Board of Assessors member for a three-year term, and one RSU 13 School Board member.
There are two candidates running for one seat on the Select Board: Martha Johnston-Nash and Linda Waltz-Mountainland
The June 14 secret ballot also includes five options for the future of the town-owned Thompson Community Center. Voters are to vote for just one option.
And, the ballot includes the RSU 40 budget.
On June 21, citizens will gather at the William L. Pullen Municipal Building Meeting Room at 7 p.m. for annual Town Meeting and to consider articles on the rest of the Union Town Warrant
VINALHAVEN
Annual Town Meeting, June 128, Vinalhaven School, 6 p.m.
Details and Town Warrant coming soon
WALDOBORO
Waldoboro’s Annual Town Meeting will take place June 14 at the polls, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Waldoboro Town Office, where voters will consider electing one Select Board member for a three-year term, and one member to the RSU 40 Board of Directors.
Candidates for the Select Board are Robert Butler and Seth Hall.
Candidates for the SAD 40 Board of Directors are Danny Jackson and Steven Karp.
The Town Meeting Warrant will be addressed entirely by secret ballot, including the municipal budget, a new Disorderly Property Ordinance (“This ordinance is not a property maintenance ordinance, but is an ordinance that would address properties in Town that have repeated complaints from neighbors, and are having a negative impact on the neighborhood,” the town explained, and the Town of Waldoboro Medical Marijuana Licensing Ordinance.
Warrant articles also include the creation of up to 36 units of affordable senior housing at the former A.D. Gray School property, the purchase of the Wooster Parking Lot, and the sale of the Friendship Street School.
Click here for the town’s explanation of the ordinance proposals.
Warren’s Annual Town Meeting will take place over two days, beginning June 14 at the polls, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Warren Masonic Hall, 105 Camden Road, where voters will consider electing one Select Board member for a three-year term, and three members to the RSU 40 Board of Directors. The secret ballot also includes the RSU 40 budget validation.
Then, on June 21, citizens will convene again at 7 p.m. at the Warren Masonic Hall to consider the town warrant, which will be posted June 7.