Town Meetings 2023: Warrants, Candidates, School & Town Budgets, plus a political race in House District 45
June is when many Maine citizens weigh how much to spend on school budgets, and polls are open on Election Day for voters to cast ballots on other business, including municipal and county budgets.
The longtime tradition of a March Town Meeting was changed dramatically decades ago when education and municipal budgets adopted a July-June budget cycle. Some town meetings then went to a June schedule. Now, the scenario has changed once again, with some towns doing away with in-person town meeting altogether, or scheduling them in May, or July or even August. Every municipality has its own schedule.
The one constant remains that voters ultimately decide whether to approve the budgets, which directly affect their property taxes. And many towns are busy with a variety of ordinance amendments, policy changes and developments (should Camden approve pot shops downtown? Will Thomaston craft a future for its Town Green? Will Rockport approve a new community park and build a new West Rockport fire station?)
Appleton, Camden, Rockport and Union have done away with the in-person town meeting, which traditionally was soon after the Tuesday June elections. This means that all municipal business, from budgets to policy initiatives and changes in those towns will now be addressed at the polls on Voting Day, Tuesday, June 13. If voters ever decide to bring back their in-person town meetings, they can organize to change the policy.
This is not a year for political primaries, although voters in Waldoboro will be considering at the polls a race for the state Legislature. Republican Abden Simmons and Democrat Wendy Pieh are running for the House District 45 (Friendship/ Washington/ Bremen/ Louds Island Township/ Waldoboro ) seat, which was vacated by Clinton Collamore, D-Waldoboro.
And Waldoboro has even created a resourceful Voter Guide to help voters get informed.
Vote yes on Article 2 to regulate metallic mineral mining in Hope
Vote yes on Article 2 in Hope
Post-town meeting in Thomaston: Too late to change course?
Camden Cares board issues statement on cannabis vote
Thomaston citizens create park ‘in perpetuity’, endorse fire/EMS station, narrowly approve land sale for clinic
Union elects Adam Fuller to Select Board, approves mining moratorium
Appleton elects Select Board members, approves all annual town meeting warrant articles
Rockland voters approve new fire truck purchase, charter amendment
Thomaston elects Chris Rector, Peter Lammert to Select Board
Camden voters defeat downtown cannabis stores; elect Alison McKellar, Chris Nolan to Select Board
Warren elects Joshua Blackman to RSU 40 school board seat
Hope voters elect one Select Board member, write in another
St. George school budget passes
Lincolnville elects two Select Board members, approves housing opportunity amendments and school budgets
Rockport approves community park for old school parcel, new fire station
Abden Simmons secures bid to represent Maine House District 45
Please vote for Alison McKellar
Vote no on articles 3 and 4 in Camden
Vote no on Article 3 on Rockport town meeting warrant
On the issues: Lincolnville Select Board Candidate Jean Botley
How does Camden thrive in the years ahead?
Camden does not need cannabis stores
Envisioning a family friendly space for former RES parcel
Camden residents, vote no on Articles 3 and 4
Alison McKellar: Why I’m running for the Camden Select Board
Town Meeting: Union mining moratorium, Thomaston Green, Rockport community park, Camden cannabis, candidates, local ordinances
Hope to hold public hearing on proposed mining moratorium June 14
Vote yes on articles 4 and 5 on the Union ballot concerning mining
Rockland voters asked to replace aging fire truck before prices, manufacturing times leap again
‘Old guard’ needs to retire old ideas and outmoded notions of developing the Thomaston Green for private use
A public/private partnership for Rockport community park
Vote YES on Article 3 brings an outstanding vision for Rockport’s future
Yes on Article 3 on Rockport Warrant a true no-brainer
A vision for community healthcare in Thomaston
In support of both women for the Camden Select Board
Free ice cream social June 11, RES parcel in Rockport
Lincolnville Town Meeting: Select Board election, affordable housing zoning, town budget
‘Hub of Wellness?’ We already have it
In support of incumbent Morgan Hynd for RSU 40 School Board
Abden Simmons is the right person for Augusta
Abden Simmons on why he is running for state office
Wholehearted support for park in Rockport at former RES site
Vote for Ed Weber for RSU 40 School Board
Thomaston Green: Knox Clinic, no; new fire station, yes
On the issues: Lincolnville Select Board Candidate Robyn Tarantino
On the issues: Lincolnville Select Board Candidate Michael Ray
Vote yes on Rockport Warrant Article 3, so the town can have a great public space
Elect Marcus Mrowka to the Camden-Rockport School Board
Alison McKellar puts thoughtful, thorough effort into her work for Camden
In support of Morgan Hynd for RSU 40
Vote yes on Article 5 in Thomaston
Ray Andreson will make excellent addition to Camden Select Board
Mike Thayer for Waldoboro Select Board
Vote for Morgan Hynd for RSU 40 School Board
Vote no on Articles 3 and 4 at Camden polls
Vote for Alison McKellar for Camden Select Board June 13
There’s something real in the positive ring: Vote Yes for RES
‘Stand up and do the right thing,’ a reader’s response
Support Community Health Center at the former Thomaston prison site
Town Meeting: Union voters to decide on mineral mining ban, moratorium, town budget
No one better prepared to serve Camden than Mary Beth Leone Thomas
Stand up and do the right thing, Thomaston Select Board
Solid land use ordinances are not result of citizen referendums
Vote no on cannabis shops in Camden
The Future of the Thomaston Green is Green (or should be)
Vote to regulate and control metallic mining in Union
June 13 Camden Town Meeting: Pot shops, new street/sidewalk rules and candidates
Civility is necessary
The future of Thomaston Green
Support proposal allowing Knox County Health Clinic to be on Thomaston Green
Vote for Rick Thackeray to serve another term on School Board
Are Thomaston residents being duped?
On the issues: Camden Select Board Candidate Christopher Nolan
On the issues: Camden Select Board Candidate Alison McKellar
Town of Hope delays town meeting while waiting for school budget audit
RSU 13 to hold budget meeting this evening on $36.6 million budget
On the issues: Camden School Board Candidate Sessa Salas
On the issues: Camden Select Board Candidate Mary Beth Leone Thomas
Camden ballot to include proposed transfer of Rollins Road property to land trust
Vote for Rick Thackeray for Camden-Rockport / MSAD 28 School Board
Vote for Abden Simmons June 13 in the special election
Vote in favor of the three so-called Thomaston Green articles
South Thomaston to consider land purchases, plans May 30 informational meeting
On the issues: Camden Select Board Candidate Marc Ratner
On the issues: Camden School Board Candidate Richard Thackeray
On the issues: Camden School Board Candidate Marcus Mrowka
Taxpayer Alert: Questions for Ray Andresen that he wouldn’t let us ask
Public invited to Rockport Community Park informational meeting, May 16
On the issues: Camden Select Board Candidate Raymond Andresen
How our 2022 Select Board subverted Camden's democratic governance
Vote for Abden Simmons in June
Camden Select Board Candidate Mary Beth Leone Thomas on, ‘why I am running’
All-in for Abden Simmons for state representative
Simmons for state representative
Flurry of candidates step forward to run for Camden Select Board, school board seats
June Town Meeting: Candidates seeking seats in Rockport
Camden to place two marijuana shop warrant articles before voters
Camden to hold public hearing on whether to allow marijuana retail shops
Town Meetings, Municipal and School Budgets, Warrants and Candidates
Below are area municipalities holding elections and town meetings in June
Annual Town Meeting, June 13, by Secret Ballot, Appleton Fire Station, 2899 Sennebec Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On May 30, Appleton will hold a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. at the Appleton Town Office to present the warrant. Read the 2022-2023 Appleton Town Report here. There will be three ballots: The municipal warrant, the $3.6 million Appleton Village School ballot, and the $13 million Five Town CSD ballot. Absentee ballots are currently available.
If you are a resident and would like to vote but are unsure if you are registered, call the Town Office. You can also register on the day of the election.
From the 2022-2023 Appleton Town Report, Select Board Report: “Proposed municipal expenditures are up 8.7% in 2024, which you will read in this report. Appleton Village School, when offset by its fund balance, proposes a 17.7% increase. Knox County Commissioners approved a 9.9% increase in the countywide budget, and the Five-Town Consolidated School District proposes a 7.7% increase for Appleton’s high school students. All in, the four combine for a proposed 12.9% increase in budgeted spending over 2022-2023. The Select Board endorses using $300,000 from Town of Appleton undesignated funds to reduce the impact on taxpayers. The result of all is an anticipated $21.70 mil rate, up $0.20 from the current assessment.”
camdenmaine.gov
Annual Town Meeting, June 13, Camden Public Safety Building, by secret ballot, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
All Camden ballots, including Five Town CSD and SAD 28 budgets, can be found here.
On the Camden Town Meeting Warrant: land use ordinances, marijuana retail proposal, municipal budget
• Camden to place two marijuana shop warrant articles before voters
• Camden to hold public hearing on whether to allow marijuana retail shops
On June 13, voters in Camden will elect two to serve on the School Administrative District 28 (Camden-Rockport K-8) and the Five Town CSD (Camden Hills Regional High School) boards of directors. There are two open seats this June, both three-year terms.
Camden Select Board Candidates
The 2023 annual-person town meeting is Monday, June 19, at the Edna Drinkwater School (56 Bayside Road), at 6:30 p.m.
ROCKLAND
rocklandmaine.gov
On the Tuesday, June 13, City ballot, Rockland residents will find a request to dip into unspent bond money and then to contribute additional funds for the sake of a critical vehicle that can’t be substituted by any other in the Rockland fleet, nor borrowed from mutual aid.
Rockland voters asked to replace aging fire truck before prices, manufacturing times leap again
Thomaston has assembled budgets, warrants, ballots and information concerning the ordinance amendments, plus information about the Town Green, on one municipal website page.
UNION
VINALHAVEN
townofvinalhaven.org
Vinalhaven will hold Election Day June 13 at the town office. Absentee Ballots now available. All absentee ballot requests must be received by the clerk by the close of business on Thursday, June 8. All absentee ballots must be received by the clerk by the close of the polls, 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 13.
At the polls, voters will decide if they are electing Thomas Anthony as Selectman for a 3-year term. He is running unopposed, and another seat remains empty, with no candidate. They will also decide upon electing Susan Dempster to a 3-year term on the SAD 8 School Board. She is also running unopposed. And, Pamela Conway Allen is running unopposed for a 3-year term on the Water District board.
“A write-in vote MUST be counted if voter intent is clear, even if the name is misspelled or a nickname is used, the box or square to the left of the name MUST also be marked,” notes the Vinalhaven Town Office. “No exceptions.”
Voters will also consider approving the SAD 8 (Vinalhaven School) $4.6 million 2024 budget.
On June 21, at 5:30 p.m., citizens will reconvene to continue their annual town meeting. The warrant and municipal have yet to be posted at the Vinalhaven municipal website.
Candidates for RSU 40 are Steven Karp, Emily Trask-Eaton and Melvin Williams.
Voters will also consider approving a $34 million budget for RSU 40. See RSU 40 budget information here. RSU 40 comprises Waldoboro, Warren, Friendship, Washington and Union K-12 public schools.
Waldoboro voters also have a state Legislative race to consider for House District 45, with Republican Abden Simmons and Democrat Wendy Pieh squaring off. HD 45 includes Friendship/ Washington/ Bremen/ Louds Island Township/ Waldoboro and the seat was vacated by Clinton Collamore, D-Waldoboro, in February following his indictment on charges of campaign financing irregularities.