March 17th Public Budget Hearing - what reporters!

I confess I didn't attend. All things considered I think it was (inadvertantly) the best thing I could have done. Between the telephone calls I received last night and those today from people who were there (1) inquiring if I was OK (I just fell asleep in late afternoon, folks, and woke up too late. I'm working on a third novel and spent too many really late hours writing Tuesday wee hours in the AM) and (2) to fill me in on their take of issues raised and their thoughts, I'm hyped. I have reporters! :-)

However, through "my reporters," I garnerd enough news and issues for several blogs. And I also had a pleasant and informative visit from one of the members of the Selectmen yesterday - more about that in a separate blog. Although, some of the things we discussed did relate to issues that came up at the meeting last night. Seems they are planning to set up a website and that was one of the topics we discussed.

First of all, an apology to David Astbury. David ran for Selectman last year and in an earlier blog I misstated his last name. Mea Cupa, David, but you are one of the responsible people in this town and I applaud you. Last night the Board stated that the Annual Town Picnic was no longer going to be provided by a benefactor (s)- that it was be paid for out of the town budget (if there was a picnic which didn't appear to be a sure thing in the mind of one of the "reporters"). But the Board was going to plan on $4,000.00 just in case. David pointed out that there are roads in Eddington in need of paving which he thought should be a higher priority than the town picnic.

I'm thinking of Pond Road at the east end of town - a sure source of potholes if there ever was one. There are several year-round homes on Pond Road. It's not all that wide a road, but if there was ever an emergency there, consider the situation for fire trucks (and repair costs to the struts to say the least) and the paramedic vehicle on that road - not to mention the impact on any victim in the paramedic ambulance during any season when the potholes are not filled in with snow.

My reporter said the Town Manager stated because the cost of asphalt has risen so much, the budget doesn't allow for paving any roads this year. The paving of Rooks Road last year took up what money there was for road paving. I'm thinking the welfare of roads in front of homes of taxpayers (property tax payers) should be considered a higher priority than a party. If the town wants to have a picnic, which is not a bad idea IF we can afford one, let us find an independent way to pay for it - tickets, fundraisers, a "y'all come and bring your own picnic basket with softball games, horse shoes, etc. behind to town office", etc. Times are financially tight (and Lord knows we NEED to spend $11,000.00 for that recycling collection contract - but I won't go there again, however that money plus $4,000. could be put toward fixing some of those potholes...). If we can't do an asphalted road, maybe we could consider a reclaimed roadtop. The Gravel Doctor has done several roads and long driveways in this area. I know. I have one. They can be plowed. And they don't ice over like an asphalt one does. And maybe they can be used as the base for an asphalt road. It's a thought, anyway. For sure I'm not interested in my taxdollars being wasted on a two-hour food fest when there are more long-term, critical needs like roads and culverts.

BTW, if there is a picnic, and if anyone (business or individual) wants to donate or contribute to the event, that's great. BUT, they should be publically acknowledged. The political word for it these days is "Transparent" so that there is not even the appearance of quid pro quo (which means "I pat your back today and you'll pat mine a little later.") I've had people tell me in the past a certain contractor has frequently been favored with business for which he has never had to submit competitive bids. Of course it's just been out of the goodness of his family's heart that's they've been involved with "providing" for the picnic. Bottom line: It stinks. No wonder the wife wrote a "lovely letter" to the Board after last year's Town Meeting praising the Board's work on behalf of the town which the Chair wanted written into the minutes of the April 15 Selectmen's meeting.

There is a proposed $6,000. increase for Firefighter positions - interns, I think.

Seems this year we've paid Lennie Williams just under $80,000.00 for snowplowing and sanding. Seems to me last year the whole squawk had to do with a proposed/bid that was over $100,000. (!?) According to the Town Manager, Mr. Williams' contract is renewable yearly with an increase each year for a total of three years. Sure sounds diffferent that the story we were given last year. Maybe someone should just ask flat out for the specific numbers - along with who buys the sand - Eddington or Mr. Williams and, if Mr. Williams, how much is he charging Eddington for the sand. According to some of the discussion at previous Selectmen meetings, the Town Office has a building to house the sand (?) and salt. The town paid a bunch for new doors for that building this past year. And the town had plenty of salt this year. So just WHAT is Eddington paying and what FOR?

Apparently a lot of people aren't too happy about an automatic increase in the contract for next year. The point was made last night that when the contract was negotiated the cost of fuel was a lot higher than it has been this winter. Especially when Eddington could negotiate for fuel as a municipality and thereby avoid having to pay the state tax (reducing the cost of the fuel that much more) - a point that was ALSO made last year.

So when the item comes up about giving the Selectmen approval to sign three-year contracts, there seem to be some folks who are NOT TOO HAPPY. Maybe that's because they feel they were hoodwinked last year re: Mr. Williams' contract and what the amount really was. Maybe bids need to be read out loud with all the details at the Town Meetings so folks REALLY know what they are approving. Transparency, folks.

There were more concerns raised about what the coming School Budget is going to be. School Board member Karen Clark was present. She said even the School Board doesn't know what to expect because the state isn't expected to let School Boards know what the state will be paying for the next school year until (maybe) April. Because the Town's fiscal year is January through December and SAD63's fiscal year is July through June there is a plus and minus (as with all things). The good news is we only get hit with a portion of the bad news at a time (the school budget). The bad news is we never know that portion of the ultimate property tax bill when we vote on the town budget.

As far as I can tell, we should expect the school budget to be a double whammy BAD NEWS this year which is only going to make the property tax bill ugly and not because we voted down consolidation. This is because last year (2008-2009) the REAL school budget was $600,000 higher than the 2007-08 budget. To make that '08-'09 budget more palatable, the School Board took $300,000 from the SAD63 Reserves and therefore showed only a $300,000. increase in the cost to taxpayers. That left only $187,000. in SAD63's Reserves. However, as reported in an earlier blog, last November, Karen reported at a Selectmen's meeting SAD63 was $372,000 in the red because the state had not paid its bills (we could have been a Maine hospital!) and the state had notified the schools it would not be making its June payment either. Guess that $187,000 in Reserves got eaten up pretty quick!

I was at last Fall's Public Hearing for SAD'63 '08-'09 proposed budget and the question was proposed then - "What will you do if you can not live within this proposed budget and it is what the voters approve?" The SAD63 Board's response was that it would make whatever necessary cuts/adjustments were required. Knowing that, I wonder what cuts/adjustments SAD63 made to get through this past school year. Because, other than whatever economic stimulus money Maine may receive from the feds specifically for education which the state MAY designate for local schools, I think we're going to be looking at either (1) the level SAD63 had at the end of the '08-'09 fiscal year - or - (2) the original budget that was $600,000. higher than the '07-'08 plus (which means a chunk of change in an increase to the taxpayers). Even with the fed money, what does SAD63 do after the one-year stimulus money is gone?

These are questions I think we need to raise this coming Monday - the 23rd - at the School Board meeting at the Holbrook School. It's not enough to say we can't expect to have some idea of this information when we go to the Eddington Town Meeting Tuesday Night when we're expected to vote on the Town Budget.

I know this is a long blog so I'll close this one out. Be back tomorrow with more "stuff". Like how do we vote on Monday - and maybe we need to take some initiative actions!

THANKS to my reporters. I was really smiling when you called. Loved that you went (12 in all this time, I'm told - double the attendance from the meeting on the 3rd). Sort of sorry I missed it - but then, you wouldn't have called and I wouldn't have known you were following the blog.) And - YES, tell your neighbors they can call with "reports" any time.