WALDOBORO — The Town of Waldoboro placed four binding referendum questions, as well as six non-binding referendum questions on the ballot for the November 3 general election. 

Referendum Questions

Question 1: Shall the Town (1) approve the refunding (refinancing), at a lower interest rate, of a portion of the Town’s outstanding lease/purchase agreements in the approximate amount of $1,378,585 and approve a capital acquisition project in the amount of $274,000 consisting of the purchase of a new grader, and including transaction costs and other expenses reasonably related to the refunding and the capital improvement project; (2) authorize the Town Treasurer and the Chair of the Select Board to issue general obligation securities of the Town (including temporary notes in anticipation of the sale thereof) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed One Million Six Hundred Fifty-Two Thousand Five Hundred Eighty-Five Dollars ($1,652,585); (3) appropriate the proceeds of the general obligation securities to fund the purposes described herein; and (4) delegate to the Treasurer and Chair the authority and discretion to fix the dates, maturities, interest rates, denominations, calls for redemption (with or without premium), form, and other details of said securities, including authority to execute and deliver the securities on behalf of the Town?

Question 2: Shall an ordinance entitled “Waldoboro Land Use Ordinance” dated November 3, 2020 be enacted to conform with the 2018 Comprehensive Plan and to repeal the existing Land Use Ordinance? The proposed ordinance can be viewed by clicking here. 

Question 3: Shall “Article 8 (Floodplain Management)” be removed from the existing Land Use Ordinance and in its place be adopted “Floodplain Management Ordinance” as a separate ordinance? The proposed ordinance can be viewed by clicking here. 

Question 4: Shall the Town revise the existing “Waldoboro Land Use Map” to change the district for the property located at Map U-4, Lot 63 (formerly AD Gray School) from the Village District to the Historic Village District? A map of the proposed zoning change can be viewed by clicking here. 

Non-Binding Questions

Advisory questions are defined by Ballotpedia.org as “a type of ballot measure in which citizens vote on a non-binding question.” The website notes advisory questions “will not result in a new, changed or rejected law or constitutional amendment” and “symbolically makes heard the general opinion of the voting population in regard to the issue at hand.” 

Question 1: Are you in favor of the Town of Waldoboro accepting a gift of properties located at 405 and 467 Friendship Road, known as the Sylvania Site and Hoffses Homestead, which is under an environmental covenant by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection? 

Question 2: Are you in favor of the Town of Waldoboro selling the A.D. Gray School for $1 to Volunteers of America in order to provide up to 36 units of affordable senior housing within the footprint of the A.D. Gray School at the time it was closed in 2009? 

Question 3: Are you in favor of the Town of Waldoboro constructing a 24,000 square foot Community Center at the existing Recreation Complex on West Main Street (in the area behind the ballfields behind Miller School)? The recreation committee has recommended including a gymnasium, locker rooms, walking track, fitness center, multipurpose room, kitchen, and offices. 

Voters are asked to select one of the following options, if in favor, realizing the estimated amount for all aforementioned amenities is $6 million. 

• If you are in favor, are you willing to bond up to $2 million for the construction of a community center that would add $122,313 to the annual debt service payment for 20 years for a total cost of $2,446,260 based on an assumed interest rate of 2%?

• If you are in favor, are you willing to bond up to $4 million for the construction of a community center that would add $244,627 to the annual debt service payment for 20 years for a total cost of $4,892,540 based on assumed interest rate of 2%? 

• If you are in favor, are you willing to bond up to $6 million for the construction of a community center that would add $366,940 to the annual debt service payment for 20 years for a total cost of $7,338,800 based on an assumed interest rate of 2%? 

Question 4: Are you willing to authorize up to $216,000 per year to cover the Salaries & Operating Expenses for the Recreation Department including the operation of the community center? 

Question 5: Are you in favor of the Town of Waldoboro allowing Lincoln Health to construct a medical arts facility on Town property? 

Question 6: Are you in favor of the Town of Waldoboro to renovate the Municipal Town Office to improve the public safety facilities and replace the current HVAC system with a more efficient system? 

• If you are in favor, are you willing to bond up to $500,000 for the renovation that would add $38,913 to the annual debt service payment for 15 years for a total cost of $583,691 based on an assumed interest rate of 2%? 

• If you are in favor, are you willing to bond up to $750,000 for the renovation that would add $58,369 to the annual debt service payment for 15 years for a total cost of $875,537 based on an assumed interest rate of 2%? 

• If you are in favor, are you willing to bond up to $1 million for the renovation that would add $77,825 to the annual debt service payment for 15 years for a total cost of $1,167,382 based on an assumed interest rate of 2%?