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.
Ray Andreson will make excellent addition to Camden Select Board
I’ve known Ray Andreson in a variety of settings: fellow sports enthusiast, informed environmentalist, and as a level-headed and budget-conscious presence on a variety of committees and institutions.
Ray will bring problem-solving experience to a board that in recent years has actively discouraged open public participation and input. Ray is someone who will look you in the eye and truly listen when you address him. His knowledge of local issues, balanced perspective and ability to… Read more
Vote yes on Article 5 in Thomaston
On Wednesday June 14, I will be voting yes on article 5 to build a community health center here in Thomaston. I am voting yes for the Knox Clinic because I want to support care for our veterans and our seniors.
We need more doctors in the area, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if they were right here, walkable from the downtown and a part of our community? The Knox Clinic staff care about our community and are really listening to what we need.
I hope Thomaston residents will join… Read more
Vote for Morgan Hynd for RSU 40 School Board
Vote for Alison McKellar for Camden Select Board June 13
I remember the “origin story” of Alison McKellar’s political career, when her zeal to improve solid waste handling and recycling on the Midcoast propelled her to a seat on the Camden Select Board! Thankfully, Alison continues to bring that same level of enthusiasm and attention to detail to her work on the Board.
Like many Camden residents, I’ve enjoyed discussing our town’s progress and promise with Alison when our paths have crossed; including roadside trash pickup day, at the… Read more
Vote no on Articles 3 and 4 at Camden polls
There’s something real in the positive ring: Vote Yes for RES
What I learned in Covid was that outdoor gathering places are absolutely essential to the health and well- being of a community.
The long- neglected slab where once I dropped off my boys at the Rockport Elementary School became a literal lighthouse. CIFF created a pop- up drive- in movie theater projecting… Read more
‘Stand up and do the right thing,’ a reader’s response
I must agree with Ms. Hubbard [Letter to the editor: Stand up and do the right thing, Thomaston Select Board]. I came to that meeting because I wanted to hear all sides of the debate so that I could make an informed decision re the future of the Green.
Support Community Health Center at the former Thomaston prison site
At the upcoming Thomason town meeting on Wednesday June 14, I hope you will join me in voting yes on Article 5 to support the Knox Clinic in creating a Community Health Center at the former prison site.
The articles under consideration allow for a balance of mixed use. The health center's building footprint will be less than a quarter of an acre out of a 15 acre space. Well over half of the 15 acres can be designated as open park space with article 3, and the rest can be a mix of… Read more
Town Meeting: Union voters to decide on mineral mining ban, moratorium, town budget
UNION – At the polls June 13, voters will weigh in on a 180-day moratorium on metallic mining, as well as a citizen-led referendum to ban industrial metallic mineral mining.
Voters will elect local officials and decide on the town’s $4.2 million 2023-24 municipal budget. Union has… Read more
Stand up and do the right thing, Thomaston Select Board
This letter is not about the sale of pieces of The Thomaston Green. It is not about the intended commercial development of The Green or whether or not a public health clinic belongs in Thomaston or on The Green. It is not about whether or not to build a new fire station or about where to place it. For both sides of all issues, it is about the importance of the need to include as many voters as possible in pivotal public issues involving the whole town and on which the whole town has very… 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.
******
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.