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
On July 20, voters will have the opportunity to show their support for regulating and controlling industrial mining in our residential community of Hope, Maine.
A special Town Meeting will be held at the Hope Corner Fire Station (475 Camden Rd) at 6:30 p.m. We are asking for your “YES” vote in favor of a 180… Read more
Vote yes on Article 2 in Hope
At the July 20 Town Meeting, Hope residents will have an opportunity to join our neighbors in Union and Warren in opposing metal mining in the Midcoast.
Please vote yes on Article 2 to ban exploration or mining of metallic minerals within the town of Hope for 180 days.
Post-town meeting in Thomaston: Too late to change course?
At the June 14 Thomaston 2023 Annual Town Meeting, the vote to preserve part of the existing park known to most as the Thomaston Green lost by four votes. The slim majority present voted to allow the Select Board to sell 1.5 acres to a proposed Health Center. Few, including those who voted against, oppose an expanded Health Center serving the entire Midcoast region. What half the Town voters in attendance objected to is how this was being shoved down our throats by the insistence that:… Read more
Camden Cares board issues statement on cannabis vote
For anyone who wondered if there is a place left in America where people can leave their doors unlocked and their bikes unchained; where the air is clean, the land is green, and the water is as blue as the sky; where people smile and wave to their neighbors, and where kids can play in the streets until being summoned home for supper – last night was our answer.
Camden’s residents came out in force to vote and say no to ballot Articles… Read more
Thomaston citizens create park ‘in perpetuity’, endorse fire/EMS station, narrowly approve land sale for clinic
THOMASTON — It was but four votes that separated the yays and nayes for the sale of 1.5 acres of town-owned Thomaston Green land, but citizens ultimately signaled approval for a new Knox Clinic community health center to be allowed there. The approval, however, was accompanied by much debate and procedural adjustments at a town meeting that also included passing an amendment that created a new town park.
Appleton elects Select Board members, approves all annual town meeting warrant articles
On June 13, Appleton voters went to the polls to conduct their annual town meeting, re-electing Lorie Costigan and Charlie Garrigan to three-year terms on the Select Board, and electing Prent Marriner to a two-year seat on the Select Board.
Ed Carroll won one of the three-year terms on the Planning Board, with the other seat going to write-ins.
Write-in candidates will also fill the Planning Board… Read more
Rockland voters approve new fire truck purchase, charter amendment
ROCKLAND — A new firetruck is on the horizon for the City of Rockland, with voters overwhelmingly in favor of dipping into unspent bond money and then to contribute additional funds.
On June 13, the vote was 252 to 63 in favor of bonding $385,000 for a new truck. Question 3 asked voters to support allocating $415,000 of unspent bond funding and an additional $385,000 to purchase a new fire pumper to replace an existing 25 year old apparatus.
Voters also agreed, 276 to 35, to… Read more
Thomaston elects Chris Rector, Peter Lammert to Select Board
THOMASTON — Four candidates ran for two open seats on the Thomaston Select Board, and voters made their choice June 13 at the polls, electing Peter Lammert and Chris Rector over Kimberly Matthews and William Wasson.
Lammert received 164 votes; Christopher Rector, 256 votes; Kimbery Matthews, 144 votes; and William Wasson, 128 votes.
Voters also elected Ronald Gamage, who ran unopposed, to the board of assessors with 304 votes.
Voters in Thomaston also approved the… Read more
Warren elects Joshua Blackman to RSU 40 school board seat
WARREN — On June 13, Warren voters went to the polls to tend to the first part of their annual town meeting business, the election of municipal and school officials, and the consideration of the RSU 40 $34 million school budget. On June 20, they will reconvene in person for annual town meeting at the Warren Masonic Hall, at 7 p.m., and consider municipal business.
Read the… Read more
Hope voters elect one Select Board member, write in another
HOPE — Incumbent Sarah Smith ran unopposed for another three-year term on the Select Board, and while his name was not on the ballot, another Hope citizen, Wayne Luce, received 45 write-in votes for the second open seat on the same board.
William Pearse received 161 votes to sit on the Budget Committee, and John Monroe revved 146 votes to be Road Committee for three years. Both ran unopposed.
Judith Masseur received 127 votes to sit on the Hope School Committee, and Benjamin… Read more
Town Meetings, Municipal and School Budgets, Warrants and Candidates
Below are area municipalities holding elections and town meetings in June
APPLETON
appleton.maine.gov
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.
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.
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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.
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.