St. George to host municipal elections, annual town meeting Aug. 17-18

Tue, 08/11/2020 - 6:00pm

    ST. GEORGE — The Town of St. George will hold a municipal election Monday, Aug. 17 and its annual town meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18. 

    Below is a rundown of what will be appearing on Monday’s ballots and what articles will be put forth Tuesday at the annual town meeting. 

    Municipal Election Articles

    Article 1: To elect a moderator to preside. 

    Article 2: To elect two select board members each for a three year term. 

    Select Board Position #1: Richard Bates is seeking re-election for this position. 

    Select Board Position #2: Wayne Sawyer is seeking re-election for this position. 

    Article 3: To elect two school committee members each for a three year term. 

    School Board Position #1: Shasta Minery is seeking re-election for this position.

    School Board Position #2: Mark Shapiro is running against Alane M. Kennedy who is seeking re-election for this position.

    Article 4. To vote to amend the St. George sign ordinance as presented at the public hearing Dec. 10, 2019. 

    Click here to view the proposed sign ordinance. 

    Article 5: Shall the ordinance entitled Georges River Regional Shellfish Management Ordinance be amended as presented at the March 2 public hearing. 

    Section 17: VIOLATIONS, SUSPENSION OF LICENSES, AND FINES
    L. Misconduct: Anyone who is rude or threatening to the town administration shall have their GRRSM Shellfish license suspended for one month for the first offense and one year for the second offense.

     

    Annual Town Meeting Articles

    ARTICLE 1: To elect a moderator to preside at said meeting.

    ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town will vote to charge interest on all delinquent taxes at the rate of 8.00% per annum, computed on a daily basis, and to establish two due dates for property taxes, with one-half of the tax amount due October 30, 2020, and one-half of the tax amount due March 31, 2021. 

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee. 

    ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the acceptance of prepayment of taxes not yet committed and pay no interest thereon, and to pay interest on all overpaid taxes at the rate of 5.00% per annum, computed on a daily basis, from the date of overpayment. Any overpayment of taxes from one year applied to the next year at the request of the taxpayer will be treated as prepayment of taxes not yet committed. 

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 4: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Town Office Administration.

    Town Manager $95,464
    Town Office Staff 218,270
    Employee Benefits 118,620
    Utilities 11,000
    Property Maintenance 20,000
    Equip Maintenance 3,600
    Office Expense 15,000
    Office Supplies 15,000
    Software License Fees 8,625
    Registry/Court Costs 4,000
    Advertising 1,500
    Town Report Printing 4,500
    Audit 8,500
    Mileage Reimbursement 5,000
    Dues/Memberships 6,581
    Professional Services 15,000
    Insurance 45,000
    Elections Expense 3,500
    Registrar of Voters 500
    Training/Workshops 2,000
    Public Communication 2,000
    Medical 1,000
    Office Equipment Reserve 10,000
    Sick Leave Reserve 5,000
    Voting Booth Replacement 2,000
    TOTAL 621,660

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 5: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Select Board/Assessors.

    Select Board/ Assessors $9,360
    Assessing Clerk 11,528
    Board Secretary 4,500
    Employee Benefits 6,878
    Select Board Expenses 300
    Certified Assessors 13,500
    Property Map Updates 3,000
    Software License Fees 4,856
    Revaluation Reserve 20,000
    TOTAL 73,922

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 6: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Planning Department.

    CEO/LPI $45,516
    Planning Secretary 11,528
    Planning Board 3,500
    Board of Appeals 1,000
    Board Secretary 5,000
    Employee Benefits 30,179
    Mileage Reimbursement 2,500
    Dues/Memberships 1,000
    Training/Workshops 2,000
    Supplies 300
    Planning Board Expense 250
    Appeals Board Expense 250
    Conservation Commission 3,850
    TOTAL 106,872

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 7: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Public Safety-Fire Department.Fire Officers $24,600
    Firefighters 40,000
    FD/EMA Office Staff 16,000
    Employee Benefits 9,333
    Training 15,000
    Gas/Oil 3,000
    Utilities 10,000
    Supplies 3,000
    Dispatch 85,603
    Property Maintenance 14,000
    Equipment Maintenance 15,000
    Vehicle Maintenance 15,000
    Medical 2,000
    Dues/Membership 2,000
    Equipment Purchases 25,000
    Vehicle Acquisition Reserve 100,000
    Water Hole Reserve 4,000
    Personal Equipment 20,000
    Generator 10,000
    TOTAL 413,536

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 8: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Public Safety-Animal Control.

    Animal Control Officer $3,750
    Employee Benefits 332
    Mileage Reimbursement 600
    Supplies 100
    Training/Workshops 500
    Veterinary Expenses 500
    Annual Kennel Fee 3,630
    TOTAL 9,412

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 9: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Public Works-Roads & Property Management.

    Personnel $38,436
    Sexton 3,600
    Employee Benefits 18,102
    Utilities 250
    Street Light Expense 13,000
    Supplies 1,000
    Property Maintenance 1,000
    Equipment Maintenance 1,000
    Fuel - Equipment 2,500
    Vehicle Maintenance 1,000
    Equipment Purchases 2,500
    Cemetery Mowing 15,000
    Cemetery (other maint.) 2,500
    Contract Services 100,000
    Roadside Mowing 2,000
    Resurfacing 200,000
    Signs/Painting 2,000
    Winter Roads Contract 203,360
    Salt/Sand 50,000
    Salt/Sand Shed Maint. 2,000
    Salt/Sand Shed Utilities 400
    TOTAL 659,648

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 10: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Public Works Solid Waste.

    Transfer Station Attendants $145,841
    Employee Benefits 80,404
    Equipment Maintenance 10,000
    Equipment Lease 1,500
    Tipping Fees 125,000
    Universal Waste Fees 1,500
    Special Waste Fees 2,000
    Transportation 95,000
    Utilities 6,000
    Fuel-Equipment 4,000
    Training 2,000
    Supplies 2,500
    Personal Equipment 2,000
    Recycling Program 3,000
    Composting Expenses 2,500
    Licensing 1,000
    Property Maintenance 10,000
    Equipment Purchases 1,000
    Septage Disposal Fees 2,300
    Brush/Wood Waste Expense 10,000
    Medical 1,000
    SW Equipment Reserve 15,000
    TOTAL 523,546

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 11: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for General Assistance.

    General Assistance $2,500

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 12: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Social and Community Services.

    AIO $2,000
    Coastal Opportunities 100
    Knox County Health Clinic 2,000
    Lifeflight 648
    Maine Coast Heritage Trust 1,000
    Maine Public 200
    Midcoast Maine CAP 1,000
    Neighbor to Neighbor 3,000
    New Hope for Women 995
    Penquis CAP 751
    Rockland District Nurses 2,500
    Spectrum Generations 3,000
    Trekkers 2,500
    Veterans’ Graves 4,230
    Cemeteries 6,500
    Jackson Memorial Library 50,000
    Shellfish Management 3,000
    Community Development Corp. 10,000
    Ambulance Service 130,000
    TOTAL 223,424

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 13: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Parks and Recreation.

    Recreation Director $51,834
    Employee Benefits 23,508
    Children’s Recreation 8,400
    Community Recreation 5,500
    Seniors Recreation 4,500
    Utilities 5,000
    Property Maintenance 1,000
    Mileage Reimbursement 600
    Ball Field Maintenance 6,300
    TOTAL 106,642

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 14: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Harbors.

    Harbor Master $45,877
    Deputy Harbor Masters 800
    Board Secretary 1,200
    Employee Benefits 20,278
    Utilities 250
    Property Maintenance 1,000
    Floats & Landings 13,200
    Harbor Channel Maintenance 4,000
    Harbor Master Expense 350
    Equipment Purchases 500
    Municipal Boat Expense 2,000
    Mileage Reimbursement 4,500
    Pump Out Float 1,000
    Municipal Boat Reserve 2,000
    Public Landing Reserve 2,000
    Ramps & Floats Reserve 2,500
    Debt Payment 300,601
    TOTAL 402,056

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 15: To see what sum of money, if any, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Unclassified Accounts.

    Contingent Account $25,000
    Family Health Contingent 26,172
    Fuel Purchase-Town Tanks 45,000
    Energy Efficiency Reserve 10,000
    38 Main Street Reserve 1,000
    TOTAL 107,172

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $ 997,721.00 from estimated revenues to be used to reduce the total commitment for the fiscal year 2020-2021.

    Motor Vehicle Excise Tax $635,000
    Motor Vehicle Registration Fees 6,000
    Boat Excise Tax 25,000
    Mooring Fees 49,000
    Animal Control Income 1,500
    Planning Permit Fees 32,000
    DOT Local Road Assistance 31,364
    DOT Reimb-Rt 131 Winter Maint 65,857
    Solid Waste Income 50,000
    Interest & Costs 25,000
    Interest from Investments 20,000
    General Assistance Reimburse 1,000
    Recreation Income 11,000
    Reimbursement for Fuel Tank
    Purchase 45,000
    TOTAL 997,721

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 17: To see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate from overlay to pay for tax abatements and any interest due thereon.

    Abatement Expense $10,000

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 18: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $125,000.00 from Fund Balance to be used to reduce the total commitment for the fiscal year 2020-2021.

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 19: To see if the Town will authorize the Select Board to transfer funds up to $50,000 within the appropriations approved for 2020-2021 in order to cover line item overdrafts.

    This article is recommended by the select board and budget committee.

    ARTICLE 20: To see if the Town will vote to exceed the property tax levy limit established for the Town of St. George by State law, due to extraordinary circumstances outside the control of the municipal legislative body.

    ARTICLE 21: To see if the Town will vote to accept the various Federal & State Reimbursements and Grants, such as Municipal Revenue Sharing funds, Tree Growth Reimbursement, Veteran's Tax Exemption Reimbursement, Snowmobile Registration Refund, General Assistance Reimbursement, State Park Fee Sharing, State Property Tax Relief, Landfill Closure Cost Reimbursement, and Small Community Grant Program, as provided by the State Legislature to the Town in the fiscal year 2020-2021.

    ARTICLE 22: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to make application for and execute any documents related to grants, and to accept said grant funds if awarded and authorize their expenditure for the purpose of rebuilding 10 Cold Storage Road.

    ARTICLE 23: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board, on behalf of the Town, to sell and dispose of real estate acquired by the Town for non-payment of taxes, or foreclosure of tax liens, and execute quit-claim deeds for the same. Except that the Municipal Officers shall use the special sale process required by 36 M.R.S. § 943-C for qualifying homestead property if they choose to sell it to anyone other than the former owner(s).

    ARTICLE 24: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board, on behalf of the Town, to sell and dispose of personal property owned by the Town.

    ARTICLE 25: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to carry forward and lapse certain municipal budget balances as of June 30, 2021.

    ARTICLE 26: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to spend funds up to 15% of the Unassigned Fund Balance as of the end of the most recent fiscal year to cover the cost of vital supplies, equipment and other items found lacking and needed for the protection of health, life and property during a proclaimed emergency.