LINCOLNVILLE — Annual Town Meeting drew approximately 75 Lincolnville citizens to the Walsh Common dining area at Lincolnville Central School, June 11. It wasn’t a roustabout — as it sometimes could be in years past — but residents were nonetheless attentive to each warrant article posed to them. The doors to the outside were wide open in the hot evening air, and a basketball game was underway, with the thump of the ball hitting the pavement. Inside, a few ladies slowly waved Chinese fans to stir a breeze. 

The most contentious piece of town business had been tended to on Tuesday, June 9, at the polls, when citizens clearly said no to discontinuing sections of four gravel and dirt roads in town. They also elected selectmen that day, and at town meeting, June 11, Keryn Laite, new to the board, was sworn in by Town Clerk Karen Secotte. Beside him, Reed Mathews was sworn to serve on the Budget Committee, and Ladleah Dunn was sworn in for her second term as selectman.

Moderator Paul Gibbons then opened the meeting, calling on various committee members and selectmen, as well as Town Administrator David Kinney, to answer questions about proposed expenditures.

The 2015-2016 municipal budget was approved without considerable discussion, and with but an $8,121 increase over the current budget. That number was reduced even further as a result of the vote on June 9 not to pay approximately $60,000 in damages to property owners by discontinuing the four roads.

In the end, citizens agreed to spend approximately $1.8 million for this coming fiscal year, beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2016.

Lincolnville further agreed to close out its police cruiser reserve fund of $2,200 and use that money to reduce taxes.

The town agreed to also use anticipated revenues of $1.3 million to reduce taxes, leaving the property owners with approximately $700,000 of municipal expenditures to fund. That figure does not include the Camden Hills Regional High School tax load ($1.6 million — Lincolnville’s share of the $12 million Five Town CSD budget), nor the Lincolnville Central School and the Waldo County tax bill.

One citizen asked at town meeting what the $386,675 expenditure proposed for warrant Article 9, which covers municipal administration and finance, is actually spent on. 

Town Administrator David Kinney said it is money spent on various costs, including those associated with animal control, the fire department, street lights, building insurance liability, legal services, ambulance service, and Knox County Regional Communications Center.

The same question was applied to Article 16, regarding $26,345 spent on Municipal Support.

Kinney responded that the money would be spent on general assistance to needy families, election clerks, Memorial Day observances and other unrelated municipal expenses.

Several citizens questioned why certain provider agency (nonprofits that make annual requests to the town for donations) requests were turned down. Those not funded included Broadreach ($500 requested), Five Towns Communities That Care ($500 requested), No Greater Love Food Pantry ($500 requested) and Mid-Coast Maine Community Action ($1,000 requested).

Budget Committee member Tracy Colby explained that the the committee had decided against funding the food pantry following a Bangor Daily News story that cited legal issues associated with the nonprofit’s leadership.

Five Town Communities That Care was denied funding because the Budget Committee decided the Lincolnville Central School librarian works with students one-on-one and there is no need for duplication of services.

Mid-Coast Maine Community Action was denied a donation because there is not enough demand in Lincolnville for the organization’s services.