Updates from Maine's Premier Free-Market Think Tank
February 15, 2010
In This Update
MHPC launches GreatSchoolsForME.org
E-mail to protect direct democracy
GreatSchoolsForME.org has arrived
Tracking all things education in Maine became much easier last Wednesday when The Maine Heritage Policy Center launched GreatSchoolsForME.org. GreatSchoolsForME.org is a one-stop online education tool designed to present important information in a clear and objective way. Users can find local education spending facts, total district spending for each of 22 cost centers (in dollars and percent), district comparisons to statewide averages, school performance data, parent reviews, up-to-date information on education reform ideas like school choice and charter schools, and more.
Since GreatSchoolsForME.org was launched last week, thousands of Mainers have already visited the site. The site's launch also received prominent news coverage from Maine Public Radio, WCSH/Channel 6, WABI/Channel 5, WVII/Channel 7, the Bangor Daily News, and Maine Ahead. National organizations including Americans for Tax Reform, AARP, and Sunshine Review Blog have also noted the GreatSchoolsForME.org launch on their Web sites. MHPC hopes visitors to GreatSchoolsForMe.org will use the information they find to draw their own conclusions about the performance of their local school districts. GreatSchoolsForME.org can transform the way we think about education, and that is a first step toward positive, student-focused education reform in Maine.
Stop politicians from undermining direct democracy in Maine
This Wednesday, the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee begins work sessions for three bills meant to curtail our right to directly engage government through the citizen initiative and people's veto. We need to send a message urging opposition to these anti-democratic bills.
LD 1690 (Rep. Seth Berry-sponsor) allows the removal of petition signatures without safeguards preventing fraud. Your name could be removed from a petition by a stranger who sends a letter pretending to be you! Petition signers may also face coercion from employers, politicians or others oppose to the petition.
LD 1692 (Rep. Emily Cain-sponsor) proposes an amendment to the Maine Constitution to require citizen initiative sponsors to identify how proposed spending cuts would be funded. Augusta politicians face no such requirements, yet Rep. Cain and other sponsors are happy to place this costly burden on citizens.
LD 1730 (Sen. John Nutting-sponsor) creates new requirements and penalties targeting citizen petition circulators, but does nothing to reform the petition process for candidates (candidate petition circulators can be under 18, do not have to be registered to vote, and do not have to reside in Maine). The money collected from the new penalties is earmarked for the Maine Clean Elections Fund, so politicians can continue using other people's money to run political campaigns
On Feb. 8, Chief Executive Officer Tarren Bragdon delivered testimony in opposition to these three bills. More than a dozen other Maine citizens joined Tarren in testifying in opposition. Our victory in stopping the Education Committee from repealing our right to vote on local school budgets proves that Maine people united behind a consistent message are a powerful force. Now, we need to use that power to protect our right to the citizen initiative and people's veto. Please take a minute to send a message to members of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee that you oppose LD 1690, 1692, 1730, or any other effort to limit our rights to directly engage government.
Sen. Nancy Sullivan - Chair
(207)282-5594
npsullivan@gwi.net
Rep. Pamela Jabar Trinward - Chair
(207) 872-7545
pjtrin@roadrunner.com
Sen. Seth Goodall
(207) 737-4797
seth@sethgoodall.com
Sen. Debra Plowman
(207) 862-4506
debraplowman@cs.com
Rep. Joh Tuttle
(207) 324-5964
RepJohn.Tuttle@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Linda Valentino
(207) 282-5227
lmvalentino54@yahoo.com
Rep. Michael Carey
(207) 344-3017
RepMichael.Carey@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Alexander Cornell du Houx
(207) 319-4511
acornell@alexcornell.org
Rep. Diane Russell
(207) 902-0043
RepDiane.Russell@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Stacey Fitts
(207) 487-5641
RepStacey.Fitts@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Wright Pinkham
(207) 628-2916
wrightfor88@tds.net
Rep. Joan Nass
(207) 477-2607
RepJoan.Nass@legislature.maine.gov
EVENT REMINDER
"Warning Signs for Maine's Economy: New Evidence"
Mr. Scott Moody, Chief Economist, The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Seadog Brewing Company
26 Front Street, Bangor
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
DiMillo's Floating Restaurant
25 Long Wharf, Portland
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
EDDINGTON REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED
While growing up in Bangor (and Eddington) I was too young to vote because the voting age in those days was 21. So I never attended a political caucus. I don't even remember hearing either of my parents discussing, much less attending, such a thing. And then moving to a "Primary State", the whole idea of what a caucus was was completely foreign to my personal experiences.
So going to my first political caucus this past Saturday was something I looked forward to, thanks to my big brother's escort. And there we were at Husson College in the biting wind on the same day that campus's gym was packed for a swimming competition. Lots of cars parked in every parking lot and shuttle buses going all over the place. Fortunately there were also very nice campus police with knowledge and directions to this writer who knew "what" she was looking for but not quite sure "where" it was located (in spite of posted signs).
The large auditorium was packed. Tables with town names posted on signs standing high - Bradley, Carmel, Brewer, Bangor, etc. and there was Eddington. And tables with all the various candidates' campaign materials and petitions for signing. It was quite a place to wander through in search of my brother whom I was to meet in the middle of the masses. But there he was.
After listening to the opening address with a salute to Ronald Reagan, whose birthday it was, we got on with the business at hand - meeting the numerous candidates. They were introduced alphabetically. Some were there in person, others were represented by someone on their campaign staff because the candidate was attending a caucus in another location in the state. Some certainly have impressive qualifications. Others sound more like politicians than leaders who will take this state out of the financial-welfare status this state is mired in. And some needed a moment but need to move on.
Afterwards, each town gathered at their assigned table to conduct their town's business. And that is when EDDINGTON formed its first Republican Town Committee. There were at least nine of us there (and I know of at least two others who would have been but for previous commitments). Troy Morton was unanimously elected Chair. We elected a Vice Chair and Secretary/Treasurer. Troy will be setting up a Committee email address soon which I will post here on the blog for interested readers. We adopted By-Laws in between being visited by Senator Richard Rosen collecting signatures for his run for re-election (this being his last term under term limits) and various gubernatorial candidates.
Any Eddington resident who is a registered Republican is eligible for membership in the Eddington Republican Town Committee. The State Republican Convention will be held the first week in May. With the full field of many good candidates, we fill confident we will be able to field a good one to run for the office - someone who can put this state back on an even keel toward financial stability, business development friendly, reduce this "welfare state status", and take the tax burden off the back of hard-working Mainers.
BTW - The monthly meeting of the Maine Heritage Policy Center will be next Wednesday - the 17th - at the Sea Dog Restaurant - 12noon to 1:30pm. Cost for non-members is $20/members is $15. The topic this month will be the business/financial environment of the state. There are usually extra seats available for those without reservations.
So going to my first political caucus this past Saturday was something I looked forward to, thanks to my big brother's escort. And there we were at Husson College in the biting wind on the same day that campus's gym was packed for a swimming competition. Lots of cars parked in every parking lot and shuttle buses going all over the place. Fortunately there were also very nice campus police with knowledge and directions to this writer who knew "what" she was looking for but not quite sure "where" it was located (in spite of posted signs).
The large auditorium was packed. Tables with town names posted on signs standing high - Bradley, Carmel, Brewer, Bangor, etc. and there was Eddington. And tables with all the various candidates' campaign materials and petitions for signing. It was quite a place to wander through in search of my brother whom I was to meet in the middle of the masses. But there he was.
After listening to the opening address with a salute to Ronald Reagan, whose birthday it was, we got on with the business at hand - meeting the numerous candidates. They were introduced alphabetically. Some were there in person, others were represented by someone on their campaign staff because the candidate was attending a caucus in another location in the state. Some certainly have impressive qualifications. Others sound more like politicians than leaders who will take this state out of the financial-welfare status this state is mired in. And some needed a moment but need to move on.
Afterwards, each town gathered at their assigned table to conduct their town's business. And that is when EDDINGTON formed its first Republican Town Committee. There were at least nine of us there (and I know of at least two others who would have been but for previous commitments). Troy Morton was unanimously elected Chair. We elected a Vice Chair and Secretary/Treasurer. Troy will be setting up a Committee email address soon which I will post here on the blog for interested readers. We adopted By-Laws in between being visited by Senator Richard Rosen collecting signatures for his run for re-election (this being his last term under term limits) and various gubernatorial candidates.
Any Eddington resident who is a registered Republican is eligible for membership in the Eddington Republican Town Committee. The State Republican Convention will be held the first week in May. With the full field of many good candidates, we fill confident we will be able to field a good one to run for the office - someone who can put this state back on an even keel toward financial stability, business development friendly, reduce this "welfare state status", and take the tax burden off the back of hard-working Mainers.
BTW - The monthly meeting of the Maine Heritage Policy Center will be next Wednesday - the 17th - at the Sea Dog Restaurant - 12noon to 1:30pm. Cost for non-members is $20/members is $15. The topic this month will be the business/financial environment of the state. There are usually extra seats available for those without reservations.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
UPDATE ON THE LEGISLATURE - BILLS TO LIMIT CITIZEN RIGHTS
The following is a copy of an email I received yesterday (Friday) from the Maine Heritage Policy Center re: the results last week of the Legislature's Education Committee and the attempt to repeal local voters having the right to vote on proposed local school budgets. The numerous emails sent by voters across the state to the members of the Education Committee made a difference. YOU are strongly urged to send emails to those members even though they are not directly elected from our communities. Their actions can (and do) effect our taxes.
R.
Education Committee hears our message
Direct democracy at risk in Maine
Maine Business InsideOut series launched
Quick Links
The Maine Heritage Policy Center
MaineOpenGov.org
Donate to MHPC
Education Committee hears our message
At a work session today on LD 570, the omnibus education bill to alter Maine's school consolidation law, Education Committee members unanimously voted against including any provisions to repeal the school budget validation vote. The phone calls and e-mails made by hundreds of MHPC members worked. Our message was so strong, not even Committee Senate Chairman Justin Alfond, the most vocal opponent of the school budget referendum, supported the repeal. A big thanks to those MHPC members who joined the fight to protect our right to vote. The members of the Education Committee also deserve our thanks for listening to our concerns and voting to preserve our voting rights. When you have a minute, contact the Education Committee members to thank them for standing up for the voters of Maine. Elected officials who put principles and people ahead of politics should be recognized for their work. Below is the contact information for each member of the Education Committee. Thank them today for their leadership.
Thank the Education Committee
Sen. Justin Alfond, Chair207-232-4187justin@justinalfond.com
Rep. Patricia Sutherland, Chair(207) 764-1490psutherland@sutherlandweston.com
Sen. Carol Weston(207) 589-4481cweston@fairpoint.net
Sen. Elizabeth Schneider207-866-7359schneidersenate@msn.com
Rep. Edward Finch(207) 249-7898edfinch@roadrunner.com
Rep. Alan Casavant(207) 284-4690acasavant@maine.rr.com
Rep. Richard Wagner(207) 784-0645rwagner@bates.edu
Rep. Stephen Lovejoy(207) 773-5538steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net
Rep. Mary Nelson(207) 781-3750mpn3@maine.rr.com
Rep. Helen Rankin(207) 625-4620rankin8076@roadrunner.com
Rep. David Richardson(207) 848-3040richardsond@hermon.net
Rep. Howard McFadden(207) 726-4676mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com
Rep. Peter Johnson (207) 695-2019rumridge27@gmail.com
Direct democracy at risk in Maine
Although Maine people scored a big victory with the defeat of the effort to repeal our right to a school budget referendum vote, other politicians irritated with voters who overturned the beverage tax in 2008 and gay marriage last year are still trying to undermine our right to directly engage our government. Three bills are meant to increase the burden on citizens advocating citizen initiatives and people's vetoes.
LD 1690: "An Act To Prevent Predatory Signature Gathering and Ensure a Clean Citizen Initiative and People's Veto Process"
This bill allows signatures to be removed from a petition without any safeguards to prevent fraud or coercion. Under this bill, a total stranger could send a letter to the Secretary of State pretending to be you and demand your name be removed from a people's veto or citizen initiative petition, without any way to verify it was actually you who made the request. This bill also opens the door for petition signers to be coerced to remove their name from a petition by employers, politicians or others who oppose an issue you support.
LD 1692: "RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Amend the Requirements Governing Direct Initiatives"
This bill amends the Maine Constitution to require sponsors of citizen initiatives to identify how any spending cuts proposed in the legislation would be funded. Maine legislators are not required to provide this information for a bill they propose in Augusta, yet the supporters of this bill want to burden Maine citizens with the extra time and costs this amendment would create.
LD 1730: "An Act To Strengthen the Ballot Initiative Process"
This bill creates a series of new requirements and penalties only for citizen initiative or people's veto petition circulators, but fails to place these same new burdens on individuals circulating petitions to put candidates on the ballot. The bill also requires any money raised from the new penalties to be deposited into the Maine Clean Election fund to increase the amount of taxpayer dollars politicians have available to run their political campaigns.
The public hearings for each of these bills are Monday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee (Room 437 at the Statehouse).
The Maine Heritage Policy Center will testify against these bills. Please join us on Monday to oppose these new regulations on Maine citizens who exercise their right to citizen initiatives and people's vetoes. If you are unable to attend the hearing but wish to submit written testimony on one or all of these bills, you may e-mail us your testimony and we will deliver it to the members of the Committee on your behalf.
MHPC launches Maine Business InsideOut series
MHPC's chief economist, Scott Moody, has launched a new series delving into the trends and demographics of Maine's business community. The Maine Business InsideOut series will include publications and presentations to education the public and elected officials on the realities of Maine's business community, and to propose responsible reforms to boost Maine's economy. Scott released the first publication of the Maine Business InsideOut series, "Understanding Maine's Business Climate" on Wednesday. This publication introduces the series and explains how the powerful NETS Database can inform responsible public policies. Scott will also be the featured speaker at our February policy luncheons in Bangor and Portland. Be sure to reserve your place at one of these luncheons by e-mailing events@mainepolicy.org, or calling (207) 321-2550. You can find more information on both of our policy luncheons below.
EVENT
REMINDER
"Warning Signs for Maine's Economy: New Evidence"
Mr. Scott Moody, Chief Economist, The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Seadog Brewing Company
26 Front Street, Bangor
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
DiMillo's Floating Restaurant
25 Long Wharf, Portland
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
R.
Education Committee hears our message
Direct democracy at risk in Maine
Maine Business InsideOut series launched
Quick Links
The Maine Heritage Policy Center
MaineOpenGov.org
Donate to MHPC
Education Committee hears our message
At a work session today on LD 570, the omnibus education bill to alter Maine's school consolidation law, Education Committee members unanimously voted against including any provisions to repeal the school budget validation vote. The phone calls and e-mails made by hundreds of MHPC members worked. Our message was so strong, not even Committee Senate Chairman Justin Alfond, the most vocal opponent of the school budget referendum, supported the repeal. A big thanks to those MHPC members who joined the fight to protect our right to vote. The members of the Education Committee also deserve our thanks for listening to our concerns and voting to preserve our voting rights. When you have a minute, contact the Education Committee members to thank them for standing up for the voters of Maine. Elected officials who put principles and people ahead of politics should be recognized for their work. Below is the contact information for each member of the Education Committee. Thank them today for their leadership.
Thank the Education Committee
Sen. Justin Alfond, Chair207-232-4187justin@justinalfond.com
Rep. Patricia Sutherland, Chair(207) 764-1490psutherland@sutherlandweston.com
Sen. Carol Weston(207) 589-4481cweston@fairpoint.net
Sen. Elizabeth Schneider207-866-7359schneidersenate@msn.com
Rep. Edward Finch(207) 249-7898edfinch@roadrunner.com
Rep. Alan Casavant(207) 284-4690acasavant@maine.rr.com
Rep. Richard Wagner(207) 784-0645rwagner@bates.edu
Rep. Stephen Lovejoy(207) 773-5538steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net
Rep. Mary Nelson(207) 781-3750mpn3@maine.rr.com
Rep. Helen Rankin(207) 625-4620rankin8076@roadrunner.com
Rep. David Richardson(207) 848-3040richardsond@hermon.net
Rep. Howard McFadden(207) 726-4676mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com
Rep. Peter Johnson (207) 695-2019rumridge27@gmail.com
Direct democracy at risk in Maine
Although Maine people scored a big victory with the defeat of the effort to repeal our right to a school budget referendum vote, other politicians irritated with voters who overturned the beverage tax in 2008 and gay marriage last year are still trying to undermine our right to directly engage our government. Three bills are meant to increase the burden on citizens advocating citizen initiatives and people's vetoes.
LD 1690: "An Act To Prevent Predatory Signature Gathering and Ensure a Clean Citizen Initiative and People's Veto Process"
This bill allows signatures to be removed from a petition without any safeguards to prevent fraud or coercion. Under this bill, a total stranger could send a letter to the Secretary of State pretending to be you and demand your name be removed from a people's veto or citizen initiative petition, without any way to verify it was actually you who made the request. This bill also opens the door for petition signers to be coerced to remove their name from a petition by employers, politicians or others who oppose an issue you support.
LD 1692: "RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Amend the Requirements Governing Direct Initiatives"
This bill amends the Maine Constitution to require sponsors of citizen initiatives to identify how any spending cuts proposed in the legislation would be funded. Maine legislators are not required to provide this information for a bill they propose in Augusta, yet the supporters of this bill want to burden Maine citizens with the extra time and costs this amendment would create.
LD 1730: "An Act To Strengthen the Ballot Initiative Process"
This bill creates a series of new requirements and penalties only for citizen initiative or people's veto petition circulators, but fails to place these same new burdens on individuals circulating petitions to put candidates on the ballot. The bill also requires any money raised from the new penalties to be deposited into the Maine Clean Election fund to increase the amount of taxpayer dollars politicians have available to run their political campaigns.
The public hearings for each of these bills are Monday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee (Room 437 at the Statehouse).
The Maine Heritage Policy Center will testify against these bills. Please join us on Monday to oppose these new regulations on Maine citizens who exercise their right to citizen initiatives and people's vetoes. If you are unable to attend the hearing but wish to submit written testimony on one or all of these bills, you may e-mail us your testimony and we will deliver it to the members of the Committee on your behalf.
MHPC launches Maine Business InsideOut series
MHPC's chief economist, Scott Moody, has launched a new series delving into the trends and demographics of Maine's business community. The Maine Business InsideOut series will include publications and presentations to education the public and elected officials on the realities of Maine's business community, and to propose responsible reforms to boost Maine's economy. Scott released the first publication of the Maine Business InsideOut series, "Understanding Maine's Business Climate" on Wednesday. This publication introduces the series and explains how the powerful NETS Database can inform responsible public policies. Scott will also be the featured speaker at our February policy luncheons in Bangor and Portland. Be sure to reserve your place at one of these luncheons by e-mailing events@mainepolicy.org, or calling (207) 321-2550. You can find more information on both of our policy luncheons below.
EVENT
REMINDER
"Warning Signs for Maine's Economy: New Evidence"
Mr. Scott Moody, Chief Economist, The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Seadog Brewing Company
26 Front Street, Bangor
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
DiMillo's Floating Restaurant
25 Long Wharf, Portland
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
SELECTMEN'S MEETING - JANUARY 26
Brian Glass and Chip Grover were absent. Since the other three were present, a quorum enabled the Board to proceed with the meeting and the evening's agenda.
Not a lot to report although there were some interesting moments. Fire Chief Ellis stated he was working on the Fire Contract (I believe with Clifton) and there was a request for $1,500 which was approved to complete piecing together funds for a Tower Study where a repeater will be installed in the U.S. Cellular structure which will improve response communications for Clifton and Eddington. There had been an article regarding the matter in the BDN on Monday.
Deputy Daren Mason was in attendance and he said overall incidents were down, although (I believe) he reported 91 incidents for the past month. He did say that Eddington and Clifton drivers were not the people being stopped for speeding. Guess we must have a lot of "through traffic" in a hurry to get-on-somewhere else.
Karen Clark gave a report of the School Board meeting the previous evening and there was a discussion re: the Holden Town Deed/Land transfer from the Holden Elementary School. More information re: the school board meeting can be found in the previous posting so I won't repeat it here. Russell Smith mentioned that Interim Superintendent Ray Hart had walked over the Release Deed that morning so that the Selectmen would have copies for the meeting that night. Since Karen still hadn't received a copy of the Release Deed (which Russell then made for her) and the Selectmen hadn't had time to read or review, their votes were tabled to their next meeting.
After some discussion re: how long it will be before any new RSU or AOS school board could be up and operational (see previous posting), the Selectmen decided to rescind their previous vote to just extend Karen's term through June and to have her go through the official process of running for her (incumbent) seat on the school board. This writer has to wonder how any local Board of Selectmen who are a separate government entity have the legal authority to deny the voters the right to vote/elect their representative on a totally separate government board. The Selectmen do have the authority to appoint an elected representative on the school board should that person not be able to fulfill their duly elected term, BUT does the Board of Selectmen have the legal authority to deny the voters to vote for their representative when the existing incumbent's term has expired and the position is up for election - no matter for the length of time? Not that it would have required any additional town costs since we need to be electing at least one (I believe TWO) Selectmen anyway - at the same time.
Anyway, Karen Clark is now gathering the required candidate signatures. And this writer is also collecting signatures for her. You can contact either of us via this blog or at home to arrange times to sign if you wish. Signatures need to be turned in by February 12th. This writer will be carrying the form around as I go to the Post Office, Tradewinds, the Eddington Store and around the neighborhoods.
Charles Baker is also collecting signatures for his candidacy for Selectman.
The law suit between the Oak Grove Homeowner Assoc. vs. the Town of Eddington has been settled with the Town of Eddington prevailing.
Libby's Junkyard permit was the subject of a "Public Hearing" at the opening of the meeting. Since no one was there to speak one way or the other, the issue was automatically approved. Seems the young couple that originally wanted to open the 300 car junkyard next to the New Hope Hospice last year (and were turned down because that site is not zoned commercial regarding of what the "For Sale" sign says) and then went down to Libby's for some kind of joint-venture have moved on. It's strictly Libby's now.
Russell passed around a draft of what next year's budget may look like. The numbers aren't final yet - some may go lower. However, at the moment, the total is only about $25,000. higher than last year. BUT it seems the State with its fiscal woes is reportedly going to cut back about $40,000. in revenue sharing from the town AND there is a possibility that Homestead Exemptions may be eliminated this coming year. Thank you, Augusta. Remember that the governor said in his State of the State address a little of a week ago that there were no new taxes! Stated he wouldn't sign any new legislation that involved new taxes to balance the State's deficit... Wonder what he thinks our higher property taxes are when the State doesn't pay its portion of the school budget or cuts the revenue sharing or eliminate Homestead Exemptions. From this property taxpayer's POV, looks like and smells like and feels the heck like NEW TAXES.
By the way, be sure to read the posting that precedes the School Board posting - it's about the attempt to eliminate local voting rights to approve/disapprove proposed local school budgets - LD1739. That issue may appear to be defeated but read the article all the way through and then send out some emails (addresses are provided). Augusta rides again and they're riding over our rights (what few remain).
The Board also needed to appoint someone locally to sit on the SAD 63 Financial Advisory Committee. This seems to only happen when the School Board is getting close to developing its next year budget. Although some members of the Selectmen didn't seem to think the School Board paid too much attention to the community people or the Financial Advisory Committee, they automatically appointed Ralph Russell to the committee. Ralph was on the committee last year. This writer thinks he may have been the chair at that time, although I seem to recall he said then that he wouldn't do it again. I haven't seen Ralph at any School Board meetings in the past year but he may have been at the December meeting since it is the one I missed.
The Selectmen's meeting was over before 7pm.
Not a lot to report although there were some interesting moments. Fire Chief Ellis stated he was working on the Fire Contract (I believe with Clifton) and there was a request for $1,500 which was approved to complete piecing together funds for a Tower Study where a repeater will be installed in the U.S. Cellular structure which will improve response communications for Clifton and Eddington. There had been an article regarding the matter in the BDN on Monday.
Deputy Daren Mason was in attendance and he said overall incidents were down, although (I believe) he reported 91 incidents for the past month. He did say that Eddington and Clifton drivers were not the people being stopped for speeding. Guess we must have a lot of "through traffic" in a hurry to get-on-somewhere else.
Karen Clark gave a report of the School Board meeting the previous evening and there was a discussion re: the Holden Town Deed/Land transfer from the Holden Elementary School. More information re: the school board meeting can be found in the previous posting so I won't repeat it here. Russell Smith mentioned that Interim Superintendent Ray Hart had walked over the Release Deed that morning so that the Selectmen would have copies for the meeting that night. Since Karen still hadn't received a copy of the Release Deed (which Russell then made for her) and the Selectmen hadn't had time to read or review, their votes were tabled to their next meeting.
After some discussion re: how long it will be before any new RSU or AOS school board could be up and operational (see previous posting), the Selectmen decided to rescind their previous vote to just extend Karen's term through June and to have her go through the official process of running for her (incumbent) seat on the school board. This writer has to wonder how any local Board of Selectmen who are a separate government entity have the legal authority to deny the voters the right to vote/elect their representative on a totally separate government board. The Selectmen do have the authority to appoint an elected representative on the school board should that person not be able to fulfill their duly elected term, BUT does the Board of Selectmen have the legal authority to deny the voters to vote for their representative when the existing incumbent's term has expired and the position is up for election - no matter for the length of time? Not that it would have required any additional town costs since we need to be electing at least one (I believe TWO) Selectmen anyway - at the same time.
Anyway, Karen Clark is now gathering the required candidate signatures. And this writer is also collecting signatures for her. You can contact either of us via this blog or at home to arrange times to sign if you wish. Signatures need to be turned in by February 12th. This writer will be carrying the form around as I go to the Post Office, Tradewinds, the Eddington Store and around the neighborhoods.
Charles Baker is also collecting signatures for his candidacy for Selectman.
The law suit between the Oak Grove Homeowner Assoc. vs. the Town of Eddington has been settled with the Town of Eddington prevailing.
Libby's Junkyard permit was the subject of a "Public Hearing" at the opening of the meeting. Since no one was there to speak one way or the other, the issue was automatically approved. Seems the young couple that originally wanted to open the 300 car junkyard next to the New Hope Hospice last year (and were turned down because that site is not zoned commercial regarding of what the "For Sale" sign says) and then went down to Libby's for some kind of joint-venture have moved on. It's strictly Libby's now.
Russell passed around a draft of what next year's budget may look like. The numbers aren't final yet - some may go lower. However, at the moment, the total is only about $25,000. higher than last year. BUT it seems the State with its fiscal woes is reportedly going to cut back about $40,000. in revenue sharing from the town AND there is a possibility that Homestead Exemptions may be eliminated this coming year. Thank you, Augusta. Remember that the governor said in his State of the State address a little of a week ago that there were no new taxes! Stated he wouldn't sign any new legislation that involved new taxes to balance the State's deficit... Wonder what he thinks our higher property taxes are when the State doesn't pay its portion of the school budget or cuts the revenue sharing or eliminate Homestead Exemptions. From this property taxpayer's POV, looks like and smells like and feels the heck like NEW TAXES.
By the way, be sure to read the posting that precedes the School Board posting - it's about the attempt to eliminate local voting rights to approve/disapprove proposed local school budgets - LD1739. That issue may appear to be defeated but read the article all the way through and then send out some emails (addresses are provided). Augusta rides again and they're riding over our rights (what few remain).
The Board also needed to appoint someone locally to sit on the SAD 63 Financial Advisory Committee. This seems to only happen when the School Board is getting close to developing its next year budget. Although some members of the Selectmen didn't seem to think the School Board paid too much attention to the community people or the Financial Advisory Committee, they automatically appointed Ralph Russell to the committee. Ralph was on the committee last year. This writer thinks he may have been the chair at that time, although I seem to recall he said then that he wouldn't do it again. I haven't seen Ralph at any School Board meetings in the past year but he may have been at the December meeting since it is the one I missed.
The Selectmen's meeting was over before 7pm.
Friday, January 29, 2010
THE JAN. 25 SAD 63 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN. YIPPEE
Six out of the eight elected school board members were in attendance for Monday night's Board meeting. Chris Fickett from Clifton and Mario Teisl from Holden were absent.
Therese Anderson, the Vice Chair, from Eddington was elected Chair with no dissenting votes. Once it was understood that Mario Teisl from Holden had said had the Budget and Finance Committee (rescheduled to the night following its scheduled date because of the storm) he would be willing to serve as Vice Chair, he was elected to that position with no dissenting votes.
The answers to the 2007-2008 Audit Questions which a group of citizens had submitted in October were provided in the Budget and Finance Committee report. They were also mailed to the members of that group on Friday, Jan. 22 and will be provided, along with the associated questions, in a posting next week. The answers are currently under review by members of the group and individuals outside the group at this time.
Before the Minutes for the Regular Meeting conducted December 21, 2009 could be approved, two important corrections needed to be made.
(ONE) Although the Minutes refelected that Jackie Smallwood from Holden, who had been appointed by that town's Board of Selectmen to be the citizen representative on the Regional Planning Committee, had read a letter to the School Board at the December 21 meeting during which she resigned from that position, the Minutes failed to reflect that (former) Chairman Don Varnum had stopped her from finishing the letter. (She had not been allowed to finish explaining her reasons, reportedly because she was not willing to rubber stamp whatever the Chairs and Superintendents decided behind closed doors and in secret meetings). The Minutes were directed to include that she was not allowed to complete her statements before the Board.
(TWO) It was brought to the Board's attention that Board Member Mario Teisl had not (prior to January 25, 2010) completed the required training in the Freedom of Access Act since taking office in 2008. This is required of elected officials, including School Board members. Therefore the Minutes during that period needed to be reviewed and all of his votes during 2008 and 2009 needed to be cast out. Any votes that only passed by one vote during that time will have to be brought back to the Board for a re-vote. With those corrections made, the Minutes were passed.
At the opening of the meeting, this writer asked (during the "Questions and Comments from the Public") what was being done regarding any formation of a Regional School Union (RSU) or meeting of the Regional Planning Committee (RPC) and when was the SAD 63 Board planning to do something regarding that issue since the evening's agenda showed the RSU Consolidation Planning Committee "TBD" (To Be Determined). New Chairwoman Anderson said she would provide a full answer to that question when the meeting got to that issue on the agenda. The following is what was said at that time:
As has been posted previously on this blog, the understood intent of the SAD 63 Board was that the "partners" for the new RSU would be Eddington, Clifton Holden (SAD 63), Airline/CSD 8, Dedham and Orrington. Then Otis came to the SAD 63 Board several months ago and stated they would like to join the RSU as well. Believing that the more communities in the RSU (the broader the base) the better the tax burden for all, the majority of the SAD 63 Board agreed to include Otis. (It should be remembered that the current legislation requires a student population for a qualifying RSU to equal 1200 students. This number does not include students attending any high school outside the RSU. None of these proposed partners have a high school AND all of the partner towns currently have the option of choice as to which high school the students can attend.)
Apparently none of the proposed partners wanted to meet and discuss any aspect of what the potential RSU might include before the election last November since there was the possibility that consolidation might be repealed (and many of us hoped it would be - even though there was next to no money for that campaign). After the repeal effort failed, there was a meeting on November 17 (previously posted) at the Holbrook Middle School which was attended by the Chairs of the Orrington School Board, SAD 63, Dedham, Airline/CSD 8, and Otis, as well as the Superintendents of SAD 63, Orrington and Dedham, and a representative from the Commissioner of Education's office. (If you want more details of that meeting, screen down on the blog for that posting.) The Bottom Line was that there were supposedly going to be Letters of Intent filed with the Commissioner (requesting permission to form an RSU) by SAD 63, Airline/CSD 8, Dedham and Orrington. One of the "sticklers" here was that Orrington (and maybe Dedham, who knows) didn't want Otis in this RSU and Otis was being urged to join the RSU in Ellsworth, even though the voters in Otis had voted twice that they did not want to join the Ellsworth RSU.
Dedham said they would be having their School Board meeting by the end of November - Orrington by the first of December and they would have to get their Board's decisions/votes to file their Letters at that time. However, everyone at SAD 63 and Airline/CSD 8 was reportedly of the opinion they were going to file those letters.
Another (reported) "stickler" (of many so it seems) is that during the November 17 meeting there was some kind of "understanding" between those in attendance that the citizen reps from the RPC teams would be eliminated - that the RSU plan would be designed by the school board reps and town selectmen reps only.
[You readers should know that at that time, this writer was the duly appointed citizen rep from Eddington RPC - and replaced a week later, as reported in another posting by the previous citizen rep, Ralph Russell, from the original RPC since the Eddington Selectmen said they had to use the same reps from the original RPC. Anyway, during the week when I was the rep, I did send an email to the school board chairs of those potential partners for whom I was able to obtain an email address (didn't have all of them but I did have the one for Orrington). I knew at that time the citizen reps for all three towns in SAD 63 had been appointed and I stated in the email I did not believe that the attempt by those school board chairs and superintentdents to remove the citizen reps would go over well - AT ALL. Apparently the Orrington Chair took offense at such independence. Wonder what he would have thought of Jackie's two-page letter?]
When the SAD 63 School Board met at the end of November, the Interim Superintendent from Otis was in attendance and was able to speak. And when the SAD 63 Board voted to submit its Letter of Intent to the Commissioner, it decided to submit two letters - one that included Otis, and one that did not. The Commissioner approved both letter. Airline/CSD 8 and Otis submitted their Letters of Intent, as well. And they were approved. So far so good. But then there was a snag.
It seems that Dedham and Orrington had a bit of a meeting of their own, the result of which was that those two school board submitted Letters of Intent stating they wanted to form an RSU with just two partners - each other. Orrington and Dedham combined will not meet the 1200 student requirement. So, if the Commissioner approves their letters, which must be done within twelve days and we are currently within that time period, it will be an exception to the current law. At the same time, those two school boards have indicated that if their letters are not approved, they are willing and able to accept the tax penalty that will go into effect for their towns July 1, 2010. For how many years Orrington and Dedham voters are willing to accept that penalty is unknown. But it will impact the property taxes of the people in those two towns.
That, pretty much summed up Chair Anderson's presentation of the situation. At which point some spontanteous brainstorming began - or at least some sharing of ideas between some of the SAD 63 board members and some of the citizens in attendance. (BTW, we had the best showing of people - not selectmen - in attendance that this writer has seen for more than a year. Good job, people.) Out of that discussion came the following:
The SAD 63 Chair will work with Interim Superintendent Hart to prepare and send out a Letter of Invitation to all potential partners for their RPC teams to meet (and that includes Orrington and Dedham) to discuss how this RSU - or maybe an AOS - could work. The December letter from Commissioner Gendron is no longer considered a guide, therefore, all partners are urged to send a FULL RPC TEAM (meaning citizen/community reps as well as school board reps and selectmen reps). The Consolidation Planning Committee that shows up will be planning how the RSU - or AOS - will work and that includes the composition of the final School Board. Perhaps, at some point, Orrington or Dedham will change their mind and want to join the work of the Consolidation Planning Committee. This writer expects they will be welcome. However, just as Airline/CSD 8 learned the last time around, last ones to the table have to accept the work already done by those who were there from the beginning.
At the same time, SAD 63 Chair Anderson will be sending a letter to the Commissioner asking, if only three of the partners "want to play" and two do not, how would the Commission propose the three players proceed? (Under the law, it is the responsibility of the Commissioner to provide guidance to the players.) This situation, and/or a copy of this letter, will also be sent to our Legislative representatives - Senator Richard Rosen from Bucksport and Representative Ben Pratt from Eddington. These legislative represenatives should know that the players should not be subject to the tax penalties just because of Orrington and Dedham even if that means that the three players do not have the necessary 1200 students. (Residents of Eddington, Clifton and Holden should be writing to Senator Rosen and Representative Pratt as well. If they don't help us get that penalty waived, we will be sharing a $167,000 penalty come July 1, 2010. And at this date, getting started means we will NOT be ready by July 1. The soonest Chairwoman Anderson estimates we can be up and operating will be February 2011.)
Under the agenda's "Old Business" came the never-ending Holden Town Deed/Land Transfer issue. Don Varnum made the motion that the Board sign the Release Deed for parcel #2 transferring the final parcel from the Holden School over to the Town of Holden. Sylvia Ellis from Holden seconded the motion. However, before the vote, Karen Clark from Eddington pointed out that the agreement for the transfer included that the Release Deed, once prepared, was to have been sent to the Boards of Selectmen in both Clifton and Eddington for final review. Karen had talked with a member from the Clifton Board before Monday's meeting who had advised Karen the Clifton Board had not as yet seen the Release Deed. (Apparently neither had the Eddington Board of Selectmen.) Additionally, there were no copies of the Release Deed in any of the school board members' preparatory packets for board members to have reviewed prior to their vote. After discussion Chairwoman Anderson stated the matter needed to be deferred for a month. She then asked Ellis to withdraw her second (to Varnum's motion). It seemed like three to four seconds before Ellis could do that, but she did. Then, looking to Varnum to see if he would withdraw his motion, we all watched and waited. The withdrawal was not immediate but it did come, with the comment, "Reluctantly." Why anyone should be reluctant to do the right thing boggles the mind. But the Chair made it clear that the process would be done in the right and proper manner and that, alone, was refreshing and reassuring. All the more reason to believe that any process directed toward an RSU or AOS will be better this time around.
This writer will say that it was the most constructive and productive school board meeting this writer has attended in nearly two years. And credit needs to be given to Chairwoman Anderson who is inclusive of her Board and the citizens, showing everyone professional consideration and courtesy while providing the information which heretofor has been negligable. At the same time there is no indication that business will be conducted in any manner less than legal and right. One could literally smell the fresh air in the room.
There will be a Budget and Finance Committee meeting February 10 at 5pm at the Holbrook School. Note the earlier time for this meeting.
There will be an Operations Committee meeting on February 22 at 5:45pm at the Holbrook School.
There will be a Technology Committee meeting on February 9 at 6pm at the Holbrook School.
The next Policy Committee meeting will be in March. There is a plan to put all policies up on the web and that will be one of the issues discussed at the Operations Committee meeting.
No other Committee meetings were scheduled.
An Executive Session followed the regular School Board meeting, the topic of which was discussion of teacher contract negotiations. One can only hope that everyone realizes there is no more money for anyone. The projected state deficit by November 2010 is $1,000,000,000.00 (that's Billion with a "B"). The state is already talking about eliminating the Homestead exemption. Augusta is projected to reduce the allocation to Eddington by another $40,000.00. People need to see what the reduction will be for Holden and Clifton. There will be more education cuts from Augusta.
This writer hopes the Board will soon begin discussing recruitment proceedings for an Interim Superintendent - perhaps contacting the current Interim Superintendent at Otis would be both cost beneficial and helpful with any RSU/AOS discussions.
This writer also hopes the recruitment process will soon begin for a new Business Manager and at a more reasonable salary/benefit package commensurate with the size of the district. It should be remembered that the individual who held the Business Manager's position prior to former superintendent Regan did the payroll in house (saving $6,500.00 annually), did not have additional part-time help, was in the office 40 hours a week, and received less than one-half of the salary being paid to the current Business Manager. And she had the financial records and business books ready for the annual audit long before December (when the fiscal year ends June 30). She may not have had a CPA degree but she got the job done and on time; the taxpayers certainly got more cost accountability. And they didn't have to pay any "$5,000 bonuses" either.
Therese Anderson, the Vice Chair, from Eddington was elected Chair with no dissenting votes. Once it was understood that Mario Teisl from Holden had said had the Budget and Finance Committee (rescheduled to the night following its scheduled date because of the storm) he would be willing to serve as Vice Chair, he was elected to that position with no dissenting votes.
The answers to the 2007-2008 Audit Questions which a group of citizens had submitted in October were provided in the Budget and Finance Committee report. They were also mailed to the members of that group on Friday, Jan. 22 and will be provided, along with the associated questions, in a posting next week. The answers are currently under review by members of the group and individuals outside the group at this time.
Before the Minutes for the Regular Meeting conducted December 21, 2009 could be approved, two important corrections needed to be made.
(ONE) Although the Minutes refelected that Jackie Smallwood from Holden, who had been appointed by that town's Board of Selectmen to be the citizen representative on the Regional Planning Committee, had read a letter to the School Board at the December 21 meeting during which she resigned from that position, the Minutes failed to reflect that (former) Chairman Don Varnum had stopped her from finishing the letter. (She had not been allowed to finish explaining her reasons, reportedly because she was not willing to rubber stamp whatever the Chairs and Superintendents decided behind closed doors and in secret meetings). The Minutes were directed to include that she was not allowed to complete her statements before the Board.
(TWO) It was brought to the Board's attention that Board Member Mario Teisl had not (prior to January 25, 2010) completed the required training in the Freedom of Access Act since taking office in 2008. This is required of elected officials, including School Board members. Therefore the Minutes during that period needed to be reviewed and all of his votes during 2008 and 2009 needed to be cast out. Any votes that only passed by one vote during that time will have to be brought back to the Board for a re-vote. With those corrections made, the Minutes were passed.
At the opening of the meeting, this writer asked (during the "Questions and Comments from the Public") what was being done regarding any formation of a Regional School Union (RSU) or meeting of the Regional Planning Committee (RPC) and when was the SAD 63 Board planning to do something regarding that issue since the evening's agenda showed the RSU Consolidation Planning Committee "TBD" (To Be Determined). New Chairwoman Anderson said she would provide a full answer to that question when the meeting got to that issue on the agenda. The following is what was said at that time:
As has been posted previously on this blog, the understood intent of the SAD 63 Board was that the "partners" for the new RSU would be Eddington, Clifton Holden (SAD 63), Airline/CSD 8, Dedham and Orrington. Then Otis came to the SAD 63 Board several months ago and stated they would like to join the RSU as well. Believing that the more communities in the RSU (the broader the base) the better the tax burden for all, the majority of the SAD 63 Board agreed to include Otis. (It should be remembered that the current legislation requires a student population for a qualifying RSU to equal 1200 students. This number does not include students attending any high school outside the RSU. None of these proposed partners have a high school AND all of the partner towns currently have the option of choice as to which high school the students can attend.)
Apparently none of the proposed partners wanted to meet and discuss any aspect of what the potential RSU might include before the election last November since there was the possibility that consolidation might be repealed (and many of us hoped it would be - even though there was next to no money for that campaign). After the repeal effort failed, there was a meeting on November 17 (previously posted) at the Holbrook Middle School which was attended by the Chairs of the Orrington School Board, SAD 63, Dedham, Airline/CSD 8, and Otis, as well as the Superintendents of SAD 63, Orrington and Dedham, and a representative from the Commissioner of Education's office. (If you want more details of that meeting, screen down on the blog for that posting.) The Bottom Line was that there were supposedly going to be Letters of Intent filed with the Commissioner (requesting permission to form an RSU) by SAD 63, Airline/CSD 8, Dedham and Orrington. One of the "sticklers" here was that Orrington (and maybe Dedham, who knows) didn't want Otis in this RSU and Otis was being urged to join the RSU in Ellsworth, even though the voters in Otis had voted twice that they did not want to join the Ellsworth RSU.
Dedham said they would be having their School Board meeting by the end of November - Orrington by the first of December and they would have to get their Board's decisions/votes to file their Letters at that time. However, everyone at SAD 63 and Airline/CSD 8 was reportedly of the opinion they were going to file those letters.
Another (reported) "stickler" (of many so it seems) is that during the November 17 meeting there was some kind of "understanding" between those in attendance that the citizen reps from the RPC teams would be eliminated - that the RSU plan would be designed by the school board reps and town selectmen reps only.
[You readers should know that at that time, this writer was the duly appointed citizen rep from Eddington RPC - and replaced a week later, as reported in another posting by the previous citizen rep, Ralph Russell, from the original RPC since the Eddington Selectmen said they had to use the same reps from the original RPC. Anyway, during the week when I was the rep, I did send an email to the school board chairs of those potential partners for whom I was able to obtain an email address (didn't have all of them but I did have the one for Orrington). I knew at that time the citizen reps for all three towns in SAD 63 had been appointed and I stated in the email I did not believe that the attempt by those school board chairs and superintentdents to remove the citizen reps would go over well - AT ALL. Apparently the Orrington Chair took offense at such independence. Wonder what he would have thought of Jackie's two-page letter?]
When the SAD 63 School Board met at the end of November, the Interim Superintendent from Otis was in attendance and was able to speak. And when the SAD 63 Board voted to submit its Letter of Intent to the Commissioner, it decided to submit two letters - one that included Otis, and one that did not. The Commissioner approved both letter. Airline/CSD 8 and Otis submitted their Letters of Intent, as well. And they were approved. So far so good. But then there was a snag.
It seems that Dedham and Orrington had a bit of a meeting of their own, the result of which was that those two school board submitted Letters of Intent stating they wanted to form an RSU with just two partners - each other. Orrington and Dedham combined will not meet the 1200 student requirement. So, if the Commissioner approves their letters, which must be done within twelve days and we are currently within that time period, it will be an exception to the current law. At the same time, those two school boards have indicated that if their letters are not approved, they are willing and able to accept the tax penalty that will go into effect for their towns July 1, 2010. For how many years Orrington and Dedham voters are willing to accept that penalty is unknown. But it will impact the property taxes of the people in those two towns.
That, pretty much summed up Chair Anderson's presentation of the situation. At which point some spontanteous brainstorming began - or at least some sharing of ideas between some of the SAD 63 board members and some of the citizens in attendance. (BTW, we had the best showing of people - not selectmen - in attendance that this writer has seen for more than a year. Good job, people.) Out of that discussion came the following:
The SAD 63 Chair will work with Interim Superintendent Hart to prepare and send out a Letter of Invitation to all potential partners for their RPC teams to meet (and that includes Orrington and Dedham) to discuss how this RSU - or maybe an AOS - could work. The December letter from Commissioner Gendron is no longer considered a guide, therefore, all partners are urged to send a FULL RPC TEAM (meaning citizen/community reps as well as school board reps and selectmen reps). The Consolidation Planning Committee that shows up will be planning how the RSU - or AOS - will work and that includes the composition of the final School Board. Perhaps, at some point, Orrington or Dedham will change their mind and want to join the work of the Consolidation Planning Committee. This writer expects they will be welcome. However, just as Airline/CSD 8 learned the last time around, last ones to the table have to accept the work already done by those who were there from the beginning.
At the same time, SAD 63 Chair Anderson will be sending a letter to the Commissioner asking, if only three of the partners "want to play" and two do not, how would the Commission propose the three players proceed? (Under the law, it is the responsibility of the Commissioner to provide guidance to the players.) This situation, and/or a copy of this letter, will also be sent to our Legislative representatives - Senator Richard Rosen from Bucksport and Representative Ben Pratt from Eddington. These legislative represenatives should know that the players should not be subject to the tax penalties just because of Orrington and Dedham even if that means that the three players do not have the necessary 1200 students. (Residents of Eddington, Clifton and Holden should be writing to Senator Rosen and Representative Pratt as well. If they don't help us get that penalty waived, we will be sharing a $167,000 penalty come July 1, 2010. And at this date, getting started means we will NOT be ready by July 1. The soonest Chairwoman Anderson estimates we can be up and operating will be February 2011.)
Under the agenda's "Old Business" came the never-ending Holden Town Deed/Land Transfer issue. Don Varnum made the motion that the Board sign the Release Deed for parcel #2 transferring the final parcel from the Holden School over to the Town of Holden. Sylvia Ellis from Holden seconded the motion. However, before the vote, Karen Clark from Eddington pointed out that the agreement for the transfer included that the Release Deed, once prepared, was to have been sent to the Boards of Selectmen in both Clifton and Eddington for final review. Karen had talked with a member from the Clifton Board before Monday's meeting who had advised Karen the Clifton Board had not as yet seen the Release Deed. (Apparently neither had the Eddington Board of Selectmen.) Additionally, there were no copies of the Release Deed in any of the school board members' preparatory packets for board members to have reviewed prior to their vote. After discussion Chairwoman Anderson stated the matter needed to be deferred for a month. She then asked Ellis to withdraw her second (to Varnum's motion). It seemed like three to four seconds before Ellis could do that, but she did. Then, looking to Varnum to see if he would withdraw his motion, we all watched and waited. The withdrawal was not immediate but it did come, with the comment, "Reluctantly." Why anyone should be reluctant to do the right thing boggles the mind. But the Chair made it clear that the process would be done in the right and proper manner and that, alone, was refreshing and reassuring. All the more reason to believe that any process directed toward an RSU or AOS will be better this time around.
This writer will say that it was the most constructive and productive school board meeting this writer has attended in nearly two years. And credit needs to be given to Chairwoman Anderson who is inclusive of her Board and the citizens, showing everyone professional consideration and courtesy while providing the information which heretofor has been negligable. At the same time there is no indication that business will be conducted in any manner less than legal and right. One could literally smell the fresh air in the room.
There will be a Budget and Finance Committee meeting February 10 at 5pm at the Holbrook School. Note the earlier time for this meeting.
There will be an Operations Committee meeting on February 22 at 5:45pm at the Holbrook School.
There will be a Technology Committee meeting on February 9 at 6pm at the Holbrook School.
The next Policy Committee meeting will be in March. There is a plan to put all policies up on the web and that will be one of the issues discussed at the Operations Committee meeting.
No other Committee meetings were scheduled.
An Executive Session followed the regular School Board meeting, the topic of which was discussion of teacher contract negotiations. One can only hope that everyone realizes there is no more money for anyone. The projected state deficit by November 2010 is $1,000,000,000.00 (that's Billion with a "B"). The state is already talking about eliminating the Homestead exemption. Augusta is projected to reduce the allocation to Eddington by another $40,000.00. People need to see what the reduction will be for Holden and Clifton. There will be more education cuts from Augusta.
This writer hopes the Board will soon begin discussing recruitment proceedings for an Interim Superintendent - perhaps contacting the current Interim Superintendent at Otis would be both cost beneficial and helpful with any RSU/AOS discussions.
This writer also hopes the recruitment process will soon begin for a new Business Manager and at a more reasonable salary/benefit package commensurate with the size of the district. It should be remembered that the individual who held the Business Manager's position prior to former superintendent Regan did the payroll in house (saving $6,500.00 annually), did not have additional part-time help, was in the office 40 hours a week, and received less than one-half of the salary being paid to the current Business Manager. And she had the financial records and business books ready for the annual audit long before December (when the fiscal year ends June 30). She may not have had a CPA degree but she got the job done and on time; the taxpayers certainly got more cost accountability. And they didn't have to pay any "$5,000 bonuses" either.
THE MAINE LEGISLATURE'S LATEST ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE LOCAL VOTING RIGHTS ON LOCAL SCHOOL BUDGETS
The following is a reprint of an email this writer received this week from the Maine Heritage Policy Center. It pertains to the Maine Legislature's most recent attempt to take away our local voting authority over our local school district's proposed annual budget. Every Maine voter needs to start calling and emailing the Legislature's Education Committee members immediately and continue to follow this issue through the elections in November. Failure to defeat LD1739, or any inclusion of it in any omnibus education bill will be disastrous to local property taxes.
*****
When politicians try to undermine our liberties, The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) and its members take action. Yesterday, (Monday the 25th) at a public hearing before the Legislature's Education Committee, we showed that we will fight for your rights, and that we won't back down. LD 1739: "An Act To Remove the Requirement That the Annual Budget of a Regional School Unit Must Be Approved at a Budget Validation Referendum," would have stripped away your right to a referendum vote on local school budgets-yet another ploy by politicians to silence the citizens and taxpayers of Maine.
MHPC learned about the public hearing for this bill last Friday, leaving only the weekend to make our voices heard. But that didn't stop us. We immediately issued a call to action encouraging Mainers to contact the bill's sponsors demanding they stop trying to take away your right to vote. It worked. Hundreds of e-mails were sent by Maine citizens across the state.
Over the weekend, the bill's lead sponsor, Representative Howard McFadden, received so many e-mails he withdrew his support for the bill and urged the Education Committee to kill it. In addition to the e-mails, more than a dozen people showed up at the Statehouse to oppose LD 1739, including Stephen Bowen, MHPC's director of the Center for Education Excellence. The Education Committee was overwhelmed by citizens ready to fight to preserve your right to a referendum vote.
Senator Carol Weston, ranking member of the Education Committee, was very impressed by the work MHPC and its members did to defeat this bill. Although we achieved a big victory yesterday with the immediate defeat of a bill to take away your voting rights, we cannot claim victory yet. The Education Committee Chairman, Senator Justin Alfond, alluded to a massive omnibus education bill to be drafted by the Committee itself. While he was reluctant to offer any details, his remarks made it clear that the Committee's omnibus bill-which will not get a public hearing of its own-might include a provision to eliminate your right to a referendum vote on your local school budget. Below is a complete list of Education Committee members and their contact information. Please contact them today and tell them to oppose ANY bill that takes away your right to vote.
Sen. Justin Alfond, Chair207-232-4187 justin@justinalfond.com
Rep. Patricia Sutherland, Chair(207) 764-1490 psutherland@sutherlandweston.com
Sen. Carol Weston(207) 589-4481 cweston@fairpoint.net
Sen. Elizabeth Schneider207-866-7359 http://www.mainesenate.org/schneider/email.htm (form mail)
Rep. Edward Finch(207) 249-7898 edfinch@roadrunner.com
Rep. Alan Casavant(207) 284-4690 acasavant@maine.rr.com
Rep. Richard Wagner(207) 784-0645 rwagner@bates.edu
Rep. Stephen Lovejoy(207) 773-5538 steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net
Rep. Mary Nelson(207) 781-3750 mpn3@maine.rr.com
Rep. Helen Rankin(207) 625-4620 rankin8076@roadrunner.com
Rep. David Richardson(207) 848-3040 richardsond@hermon.net
Rep. Howard McFadden(207) 726-4676 mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com
Rep. Peter Johnson (207) 695-2019 rumridge27@gmail.com
MHPC and its members are making an impact, fighting every step of the way to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed to us. Contact the Education Committee members today, and join us in our fight.
*****
When politicians try to undermine our liberties, The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) and its members take action. Yesterday, (Monday the 25th) at a public hearing before the Legislature's Education Committee, we showed that we will fight for your rights, and that we won't back down. LD 1739: "An Act To Remove the Requirement That the Annual Budget of a Regional School Unit Must Be Approved at a Budget Validation Referendum," would have stripped away your right to a referendum vote on local school budgets-yet another ploy by politicians to silence the citizens and taxpayers of Maine.
MHPC learned about the public hearing for this bill last Friday, leaving only the weekend to make our voices heard. But that didn't stop us. We immediately issued a call to action encouraging Mainers to contact the bill's sponsors demanding they stop trying to take away your right to vote. It worked. Hundreds of e-mails were sent by Maine citizens across the state.
Over the weekend, the bill's lead sponsor, Representative Howard McFadden, received so many e-mails he withdrew his support for the bill and urged the Education Committee to kill it. In addition to the e-mails, more than a dozen people showed up at the Statehouse to oppose LD 1739, including Stephen Bowen, MHPC's director of the Center for Education Excellence. The Education Committee was overwhelmed by citizens ready to fight to preserve your right to a referendum vote.
Senator Carol Weston, ranking member of the Education Committee, was very impressed by the work MHPC and its members did to defeat this bill. Although we achieved a big victory yesterday with the immediate defeat of a bill to take away your voting rights, we cannot claim victory yet. The Education Committee Chairman, Senator Justin Alfond, alluded to a massive omnibus education bill to be drafted by the Committee itself. While he was reluctant to offer any details, his remarks made it clear that the Committee's omnibus bill-which will not get a public hearing of its own-might include a provision to eliminate your right to a referendum vote on your local school budget. Below is a complete list of Education Committee members and their contact information. Please contact them today and tell them to oppose ANY bill that takes away your right to vote.
Sen. Justin Alfond, Chair207-232-4187 justin@justinalfond.com
Rep. Patricia Sutherland, Chair(207) 764-1490 psutherland@sutherlandweston.com
Sen. Carol Weston(207) 589-4481 cweston@fairpoint.net
Sen. Elizabeth Schneider207-866-7359 http://www.mainesenate.org/schneider/email.htm (form mail)
Rep. Edward Finch(207) 249-7898 edfinch@roadrunner.com
Rep. Alan Casavant(207) 284-4690 acasavant@maine.rr.com
Rep. Richard Wagner(207) 784-0645 rwagner@bates.edu
Rep. Stephen Lovejoy(207) 773-5538 steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net
Rep. Mary Nelson(207) 781-3750 mpn3@maine.rr.com
Rep. Helen Rankin(207) 625-4620 rankin8076@roadrunner.com
Rep. David Richardson(207) 848-3040 richardsond@hermon.net
Rep. Howard McFadden(207) 726-4676 mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com
Rep. Peter Johnson (207) 695-2019 rumridge27@gmail.com
MHPC and its members are making an impact, fighting every step of the way to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed to us. Contact the Education Committee members today, and join us in our fight.
Monday, January 25, 2010
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT, THE 25TH
The SAD 63 School Board will be gathering for its monthly Do Nothing gathering tonight at the Eddington Elementary School - at 6:30pm. First thing on the agenda is to elect a new Chair (one would think the election of a new Vice Chair should have been considered when the agenda was being put together - just in case the current Vice Chair, Therese Anderson, was elected Chair, but maybe certain people on the Board didn't think that would happen). Do we smell another Holden "fix" in the works?
In looking at the proposed agenda, it is "interesting" to note that for another month there is absolutely nothing regarding the initiation of any Regional Planning Committee meeting for the RSU (or AOS). Seems I recall Ray Hart pointing out some months ago that the voters should be voting in February to approve a proposed RSU (developed by the multi-community RPCs) that is supposed to go into effect by July 1, 2010 (a little over five months from now).
At this point, with no RSU or AOS to vote on (because there have been no RPC meetings to work on such a product), the state, that is looking for every penny it can save, will be in a position to levy the $167,000 penalty on SAD 63 for failing to consolidate. Of course, that penalty will not be paid out of the pockets/checkbooks or savings of the eight school board members. It will be added to the $125,000 we taxpayers in Eddington, Clifton and Holden will see in our property tax bills (the latter being our portion of the recent settlement agreement with the former superintendent, Louise Regan). And that's just for starters.
By this coming November when the new Governor and Legislature takes their offices, the state of Maine's projected deficit will be $1,000,000 (one million dollars) - twice the amount the Legislature is wrestling with right now. That bombshell was delivered at the January luncheon of the Maine Heritage Policy Center.
Following tonight's Board meeting, the Board plans to conduct an Executive Session to discuss development of next year' budget, what they need to do regarding the initiation of a teachers' contract and a search for a short-term Interim Superintendent. (Seems Ray Hart didn't seem to think adding the issue of the current Business Manager's contract ALSO expiring June 30, 2010 merited inclusion to be discussed in the Executive Session. Not that the Acting Chair, Therese Anderson, or any other Board member notified the Board Secretary to include that item...)
With the State cutting back over $340,000-$355,000 from their share of this district's current (2009-2010) school budget, and even less to be expected from the State next year (not to mention deducting the $167,000) from whatever they "plan to allocate" (which is not the same as what they'll eventually deliver), any SAD 63 teachers' contract will be lucky to equal what the past one has been - salaries and benefits combined. But everyone can forget any increases. Which is why anyone who thinks there doesn't need to be the same facilitator sitting in on these negotiations has his head up a very dark place (or is bucking for a paid consultant position with the teachers' union). The facilitator who kept things realistic the last time saved this district a lot of money when the union representative came in with a List of Expectations that equaled what teachers in the Brewer school district received. It would be good to remember that the teachers in the Orrington school district, where property has a higher state valuation than any of the towns in SAD 63, receive lower compensation than the teachers in SAD 63.
As far any search for an Interim Superintendent is concerned, the first place to start would be a conversation with the Interim Superintendent currently serving the Otis school district.
And last but not least, since this Board should be talking about reducing school budget costs, let them start with some realities regarding the current Business Manager, Yvonne Mitchell, who is currently paid more than $70,000 a year.
There hasn't been a Financial Statement provided since September, and that includes the packets the members of the Board received in preparation for tonight's meeting. And yet, her supervisor, the Interim Superintendent, prepared and read aloud at a recent School Board meeting a Letter of Commendation lauding the Business Manager's performance including her preparation of monthly financial statements. (Guess he failed to remember the five months last year when she didn't produce any then, either.)
BTW - The Business Manager at UTC produces monthly financial reports that are in excess of 70 pages in length - every month. The UTC Business Manager is paid approximately one-half what Ms. Mitchell is paid. And the UTC Business Manager doesn't have a Part-Time assistant to help her, unlike Ms. Mitchell. Seems to this writer, we could save a lot of school budget money by hiring the UTC Business Manager effective July 1, 2010. We'd be getting a more productive employee and we could probably hire that individual for significantly less than what we're paying Ms. Mitchell.
In Summary - there is significant work to be done by the members of the SAD 63 board. One wonders when they plan to get started?
When talking this past week with parents of some students enrolled at the Eddington School, the parents were shocked to learn nothing has been done regarding the formation of an RSU. They were even more shocked to learn that Orrington and Dedham have officially filed Letters of Intent of consolidate without joining with SAD 63 or CSD 8. Perhaps the individual school newsletters should start communicating directly with the parents of the students in this district to let them know just how ineffective their elected school board is performing. This news is certainly more important that the latest cookie fundraiser.
In looking at the proposed agenda, it is "interesting" to note that for another month there is absolutely nothing regarding the initiation of any Regional Planning Committee meeting for the RSU (or AOS). Seems I recall Ray Hart pointing out some months ago that the voters should be voting in February to approve a proposed RSU (developed by the multi-community RPCs) that is supposed to go into effect by July 1, 2010 (a little over five months from now).
At this point, with no RSU or AOS to vote on (because there have been no RPC meetings to work on such a product), the state, that is looking for every penny it can save, will be in a position to levy the $167,000 penalty on SAD 63 for failing to consolidate. Of course, that penalty will not be paid out of the pockets/checkbooks or savings of the eight school board members. It will be added to the $125,000 we taxpayers in Eddington, Clifton and Holden will see in our property tax bills (the latter being our portion of the recent settlement agreement with the former superintendent, Louise Regan). And that's just for starters.
By this coming November when the new Governor and Legislature takes their offices, the state of Maine's projected deficit will be $1,000,000 (one million dollars) - twice the amount the Legislature is wrestling with right now. That bombshell was delivered at the January luncheon of the Maine Heritage Policy Center.
Following tonight's Board meeting, the Board plans to conduct an Executive Session to discuss development of next year' budget, what they need to do regarding the initiation of a teachers' contract and a search for a short-term Interim Superintendent. (Seems Ray Hart didn't seem to think adding the issue of the current Business Manager's contract ALSO expiring June 30, 2010 merited inclusion to be discussed in the Executive Session. Not that the Acting Chair, Therese Anderson, or any other Board member notified the Board Secretary to include that item...)
With the State cutting back over $340,000-$355,000 from their share of this district's current (2009-2010) school budget, and even less to be expected from the State next year (not to mention deducting the $167,000) from whatever they "plan to allocate" (which is not the same as what they'll eventually deliver), any SAD 63 teachers' contract will be lucky to equal what the past one has been - salaries and benefits combined. But everyone can forget any increases. Which is why anyone who thinks there doesn't need to be the same facilitator sitting in on these negotiations has his head up a very dark place (or is bucking for a paid consultant position with the teachers' union). The facilitator who kept things realistic the last time saved this district a lot of money when the union representative came in with a List of Expectations that equaled what teachers in the Brewer school district received. It would be good to remember that the teachers in the Orrington school district, where property has a higher state valuation than any of the towns in SAD 63, receive lower compensation than the teachers in SAD 63.
As far any search for an Interim Superintendent is concerned, the first place to start would be a conversation with the Interim Superintendent currently serving the Otis school district.
And last but not least, since this Board should be talking about reducing school budget costs, let them start with some realities regarding the current Business Manager, Yvonne Mitchell, who is currently paid more than $70,000 a year.
There hasn't been a Financial Statement provided since September, and that includes the packets the members of the Board received in preparation for tonight's meeting. And yet, her supervisor, the Interim Superintendent, prepared and read aloud at a recent School Board meeting a Letter of Commendation lauding the Business Manager's performance including her preparation of monthly financial statements. (Guess he failed to remember the five months last year when she didn't produce any then, either.)
BTW - The Business Manager at UTC produces monthly financial reports that are in excess of 70 pages in length - every month. The UTC Business Manager is paid approximately one-half what Ms. Mitchell is paid. And the UTC Business Manager doesn't have a Part-Time assistant to help her, unlike Ms. Mitchell. Seems to this writer, we could save a lot of school budget money by hiring the UTC Business Manager effective July 1, 2010. We'd be getting a more productive employee and we could probably hire that individual for significantly less than what we're paying Ms. Mitchell.
In Summary - there is significant work to be done by the members of the SAD 63 board. One wonders when they plan to get started?
When talking this past week with parents of some students enrolled at the Eddington School, the parents were shocked to learn nothing has been done regarding the formation of an RSU. They were even more shocked to learn that Orrington and Dedham have officially filed Letters of Intent of consolidate without joining with SAD 63 or CSD 8. Perhaps the individual school newsletters should start communicating directly with the parents of the students in this district to let them know just how ineffective their elected school board is performing. This news is certainly more important that the latest cookie fundraiser.
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