Town Meetings 2023: Warrants, Candidates, School & Town Budgets, plus a political race in House District 45
June is when many Maine citizens weigh how much to spend on school budgets, and polls are open on Election Day for voters to cast ballots on other business, including municipal and county budgets.
The longtime tradition of a March Town Meeting was changed dramatically decades ago when education and municipal budgets adopted a July-June budget cycle. Some town meetings then went to a June schedule. Now, the scenario has changed once again, with some towns doing away with in-person town meeting altogether, or scheduling them in May, or July or even August. Every municipality has its own schedule.
The one constant remains that voters ultimately decide whether to approve the budgets, which directly affect their property taxes. And many towns are busy with a variety of ordinance amendments, policy changes and developments (should Camden approve pot shops downtown? Will Thomaston craft a future for its Town Green? Will Rockport approve a new community park and build a new West Rockport fire station?)
Appleton, Camden, Rockport and Union have done away with the in-person town meeting, which traditionally was soon after the Tuesday June elections. This means that all municipal business, from budgets to policy initiatives and changes in those towns will now be addressed at the polls on Voting Day, Tuesday, June 13. If voters ever decide to bring back their in-person town meetings, they can organize to change the policy.
This is not a year for political primaries, although voters in Waldoboro will be considering at the polls a race for the state Legislature. Republican Abden Simmons and Democrat Wendy Pieh are running for the House District 45 (Friendship/ Washington/ Bremen/ Louds Island Township/ Waldoboro ) seat, which was vacated by Clinton Collamore, D-Waldoboro.
And Waldoboro has even created a resourceful Voter Guide to help voters get informed.
Town Meeting: Union mining moratorium, Thomaston Green, Rockport community park, Camden cannabis, candidates, local ordinances
June is when many Maine citizens weigh how much to spend on school budgets, and polls are open on Election Day for voters to cast ballots on other business, including municipal and county budgets.
The longtime tradition of a March Town Meeting was changed dramatically decades ago when education and municipal budgets adopted a July-June budget cycle. Some town… Read more
Vote for Ed Weber for RSU 40 School Board
Greetings, Union residents. In April, Ed Weber contacted me to ask questions about and to gain insight into the responsibilities of serving as a school board member for the RSU 40 school district. As it happens, we were able to meet at our local coffee shop on Union Common, where we had a productive conversation about being a steward for student outcomes, the inner workings of a school board, and the importance of a school board member’s responsibility to consider the whole district, not… Read more
Thomaston Green: Knox Clinic, no; new fire station, yes
This letter concerns the upcoming vote on June 14 that will decide the fate of the Thomaston Green. The residents of Thomaston are fortunate to have a large open green space with gorgeous views of the St. George River. Leaving the space open for the benefit of all lends itself to becoming a true community park with many options: picnic pavilions, gardening plots, a covered band venue in the historic prison wall corner, an arboretum or just leave it in its current state.
There is… Read more
On the issues: Lincolnville Select Board Candidate Robyn Tarantino
On June 13, voters in Lincolnville will elect two citizens from a slate of three candidates to serve on the Lincolnville Select Board. There are two open seats this June, both three-year terms. Candidates are Jean Botley, incumbent Michael Ray and Robyn Tarantino.
On the issues: Lincolnville Select Board Candidate Michael Ray
On June 13, voters in Lincolnville will elect two citizens from a slate of three candidates to serve on the Lincolnville Select Board. There are two open seats this June, both three-year terms. Candidates are Jean Botley, incumbent Michael Ray and Robyn Tarantino.
Vote yes on Rockport Warrant Article 3, so the town can have a great public space
Alison McKellar puts thoughtful, thorough effort into her work for Camden
We are writing to enthusiastically support Alison McKellar for re-election to Camden’s Select Board.
Alison is compassionate, hard-working and open-minded. We are regularly in awe of the thoughtful and thorough effort Alison puts into her work for our town. She clearly cares deeply about both the town and everyone who calls Camden home, from children to the elderly, newcomers to long-term residents, and spanning the socio-economic spectrum.
Not only does Alison delve deeply… Read more
Elect Marcus Mrowka to the Camden-Rockport School Board
Marcus Mrowka has a proven record of commitment to our public schools and the necessary experience at the local, state and national level to continue to serve as a member of the SAD 28/Five Town CSD School Board.
As a product of public school education himself, I know that he will be a dedicated and active school board member, enabling our schools to live up to their full potential.
I have known Marcus for number of years and found him to be a compassionate and knowledgeable… Read more
In support of Morgan Hynd for RSU 40
I urge you to join me in voting for Morgan Hynd for the RSU 40 School Board on June 13.
Morgan has the qualities that make her an excellent choice. She has experience (school board member for five years), leadership skills (board vice-chair for three years, curriculum committee chair for four years) and has demonstrated the teamwork necessary to work with differing views for the best outcome for all students.
Morgan is dedicated to creating excellent education opportunities… Read more
Mike Thayer for Waldoboro Select Board
Please join me in voting Mike Thayer onto Waldoboro's Select Board. Mike is not new to serving Waldoboro. He stepped up to serve on several Town committees, including the Budget Committee, familiarizing himself with the needs of each municipal department, and he's been a Trustee for Waldoboro Utility District for the past six years.
Mike considers issues on their own merits, leaving party affiliation at the door. He's thoughtful, considers the issues carefully, and keeps an open… Read more
Town Meetings, Municipal and School Budgets, Warrants and Candidates
Below are area municipalities holding elections and town meetings in June
APPLETON
appleton.maine.gov
Annual Town Meeting, June 13, by Secret Ballot, Appleton Fire Station, 2899 Sennebec Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On May 30, Appleton will hold a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. at the Appleton Town Office to present the warrant. Read the 2022-2023 Appleton Town Report here. There will be three ballots: The municipal warrant, the $3.6 million Appleton Village School ballot, and the $13 million Five Town CSD ballot. Absentee ballots are currently available.
If you are a resident and would like to vote but are unsure if you are registered, call the Town Office. You can also register on the day of the election.
From the 2022-2023 Appleton Town Report, Select Board Report: “Proposed municipal expenditures are up 8.7% in 2024, which you will read in this report. Appleton Village School, when offset by its fund balance, proposes a 17.7% increase. Knox County Commissioners approved a 9.9% increase in the countywide budget, and the Five-Town Consolidated School District proposes a 7.7% increase for Appleton’s high school students. All in, the four combine for a proposed 12.9% increase in budgeted spending over 2022-2023. The Select Board endorses using $300,000 from Town of Appleton undesignated funds to reduce the impact on taxpayers. The result of all is an anticipated $21.70 mil rate, up $0.20 from the current assessment.”
camdenmaine.gov
Annual Town Meeting, June 13, Camden Public Safety Building, by secret ballot, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On the Camden Town Meeting Warrant: land use ordinances, marijuana retail proposal, municipal budget
• Camden to place two marijuana shop warrant articles before voters
• Camden to hold public hearing on whether to allow marijuana retail shops
On June 13, voters in Camden will elect two to serve on the School Administrative District 28 (Camden-Rockport K-8) and the Five Town CSD (Camden Hills Regional High School) boards of directors. There are two open seats this June, both three-year terms.
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Camden Select Board Candidates
The 2023 annual-person town meeting is Monday, June 19, at the Edna Drinkwater School (56 Bayside Road), at 6:30 p.m.
ROCKLAND
rocklandmaine.gov
On the Tuesday, June 13, City ballot, Rockland residents will find a request to dip into unspent bond money and then to contribute additional funds for the sake of a critical vehicle that can’t be substituted by any other in the Rockland fleet, nor borrowed from mutual aid.
Rockland voters asked to replace aging fire truck before prices, manufacturing times leap again
Thomaston has assembled budgets, warrants, ballots and information concerning the ordinance amendments, plus information about the Town Green, on one municipal website page.
VINALHAVEN
townofvinalhaven.org
Vinalhaven will hold Election Day June 13 at the town office. Absentee Ballots now available. All absentee ballot requests must be received by the clerk by the close of business on Thursday, June 8. All absentee ballots must be received by the clerk by the close of the polls, 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 13.
At the polls, voters will decide if they are electing Thomas Anthony as Selectman for a 3-year term. He is running unopposed, and another seat remains empty, with no candidate. They will also decide upon electing Susan Dempster to a 3-year term on the SAD 8 School Board. She is also running unopposed. And, Pamela Conway Allen is running unopposed for a 3-year term on the Water District board.
“A write-in vote MUST be counted if voter intent is clear, even if the name is misspelled or a nickname is used, the box or square to the left of the name MUST also be marked,” notes the Vinalhaven Town Office. “No exceptions.”
Voters will also consider approving the SAD 8 (Vinalhaven School) $4.6 million 2024 budget.
On June 21, at 5:30 p.m., citizens will reconvene to continue their annual town meeting. The warrant and municipal have yet to be posted at the Vinalhaven municipal website.
Candidates for RSU 40 are Steven Karp, Emily Trask-Eaton and Melvin Williams.
Voters will also consider approving a $34 million budget for RSU 40. See RSU 40 budget information here. RSU 40 comprises Waldoboro, Warren, Friendship, Washington and Union K-12 public schools.
Waldoboro voters also have a state Legislative race to consider for House District 45, with Republican Abden Simmons and Democrat Wendy Pieh squaring off. HD 45 includes Friendship/ Washington/ Bremen/ Louds Island Township/ Waldoboro and the seat was vacated by Clinton Collamore, D-Waldoboro, in February following his indictment on charges of campaign financing irregularities.