GOOD NEWS

First the Tax News:

At the SAD63 School Board meeting tonight, it was announced by Interim Superintendent Hart that notices have been sent out to all three Town Managers stating the previous assessments for the 2009-2010 School Budget have been reduced. This is because the $163,000 penalty by the state was rescinded per the Legislature/Governor and the State will be paying this amount to the school district. Therefore, even though the voters approved the higher assessment this past June, the Board is honoring the position it took in June (that the budget total would be reduced, along with the towns' assessments, if the state rescinded the penalty). Bottom line: Our tax bills shouldn't be as high as they would have been if the Board hadn't honored its commitment.

Thank you, School Board.

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That which was taken has been returned. The two signs that were taken without authorization yesterday, as reported in yesterday's blog, were returned to the Town Office today. Deputy Darren Mason was notified and the case has been closed.

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More School Board Meeting news. The School Board approved a two-year snow plowing bid, in the amount of $26,300, for all three schools to S.F. Eastman of Bucksport. Therese Anderson (rep from Eddington) asked if it was wise to commit to a two-year contract if the District is going to become an RSU. It was explained by the Operations Manager that the second year of the contract would be the only year that would be impacted by an RSU and it would take one item off the table for a beginning RSU Board that will have plenty to do that first year. The Board agreed with the explanation. It was pointed out by Karen Clark (rep from Eddington) that this was the first time in many years that she could recall a bidder wanting to meet with the committee taking bids in order to ask questions, look at the properties that would need to be plowed, and to assure the committee members that the plowing, sanding and salting as needed would be done whether school was in session or on vacation.

There was no Budget and Finance Committee (BFC) meeting in August because there wasn't a quorum. Seems Member Ellis (rep from Holden) was out on a lake kayaking. As a result the Audit Report for 2007-2008, produced in July by the Audit firm, was not released to the Board since it had not been "approved" by the BFC Committee. The next BFC meeting will be Sept. 9 at Holbrook School. (Note: That will be 15 months after the close of the fiscal year audited.) Mario Teisl (rep from Holden) is back from vacation and will resume the position of BFC Chair.

There will be a Curriculum Committee meeting sometime in October. Meeting dates were set for dates in September for the Policy committee, the Technology committee, and the Operations committee which meets right before the School Board.

Chairman Varnum and Interim Superintendent Hart will be sending out letters of interest to various town managers, selectmen and individuals who may be interested in serving on an RSU committee. I wonder how much time these ultimate committee members will be expected to devote to developing a proposal townspeople are expected to approve before when - January 2010? It was noted that state law requires representation on an RSU Committee from the School Boards of any towns interested in consolidating, elected officials from those towns and private citizens. Anyone interested? Contact Russell Smith, Town Manager from Eddington - or your own Town Manager or the District Office and leave a message for Mr. Hart. Varnum noted Kevin Mills (rep from Holden) and Karen Clark (rep from Eddington) have both expressed interest in serving on the committee. Both Varnum (rep from Holden) and Hart indicated they will serve on the committee. Fickett is the only rep on the school board from Clifton.

The next School Board meeting will be October 26 at the Eddington School - 6:30pm.

Attendees at tonight's meeting: Pam Dorr, Therese Anderson, Kevin Mills, Chris Fickett, Don Varnum, Raymond Hart, Sylvia Ellis, Mario Teisl, and Karen Clark. Mrs. Dorr needed to leave early and therefor missed the lengthy discussion re: the transfer of property to Holden currently a part of the Holden School grounds and held as property of SAD63. This property includes the Nature Trails, the Veterans Memorial, and more. Because members of Clifton's and Eddington's Selectmen and Town Manager were not present for the discussion and subsequent vote, the matter was tabled until the October 26 meeting. There seems to be a serious need for people of all three towns to be clear about what this transfer is about and the ramifications of doing or not doing what Holden is requesting. While the issue was somewhat clear when consolidation with Brewer was on the table, the issue is different now (since that RSU plan was voted down by all three towns). It doesn't help when the only School Board members who appear to be pushing for this transfer are representatives from Holden.

I will try to obtain a copy of the proposed documents and print them here - word for word - for viewers to decide and communicate their feelings/position to their elected representatives (school board or selectman).

There were no Financial Reports available for the School Board or members of the public. The Business Office is currently preparing/finalizing financial documents to be turned over to the Auditors in order for them to begin the 2008-2009 Audit. Hopefully that audit will begin by the end of September. The reason given for no Financial Statements since May is that the June (year-end) reports are in the process of being done and would not have been ready until after the School Board went on vacation in July. And the July reports are "in process" but neither the June or July reports could have been reviewed by the BFC because there wasn't a quorum at the August meeting anyway. One will hope the BFC plans for a Looong meeting in September because they will have three monthly reports to review in addition to the 2007-2008 Audit and any related documents to process. They should be busy.