THE
RECORD
Annual
Town Meeting - May 1 & 2, 2006
Town
of
The voters of the Town of
The action taken by the meeting under the various Articles in the Warrant was as follows:
Article 1 - ELECTION OF MODERATOR - To choose a Moderator
to preside at said meeting.
The
Town Clerk opened the floor for the election of Moderator. Chad Smith was nominated. There being no further nominations, it was
moved and duly seconded that nominations cease.
The motion passed unanimously.
Ballots were cast for Moderator; Chad Smith received six votes. Chad Smith was declared elected Moderator and
sworn in by the Town Clerk. Mr. Smith
appointed John Bennett as deputy moderator, who was duly sworn in to serve in
his place during his absence from the polls.
The Moderator called the
meeting to order and presided. The
following action was taken:
Article 2 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS - To elect all
necessary Town Officers as are required to be elected by secret ballot.
601 ballots were cast including
36 absentee ballots. There was one spoiled
ballot.
For Town
Council – Three Year Term – Two vacancies
Robert E. Garland received 327
Richard N. Hamor, Jr. received 209
Terence E. O’Connell received 120
Julia B. Schloss received 334
Write-Ins: Victor Sergi
with 3 votes; Lisa Tweedie, Jeremy Rudolph, Michael Reisman, and Tom Crikeliar
each with one vote.
Declared
elected: Robert E. Garland and Julia B. Schloss
For Town
Council – One Year Term – One vacancy
Michael J. Good received 193
Paul A. Paradis received 396
Write-Ins: Each with one
vote: Victor Sergi, David Manski, Dick Rand, and Tom Crikelair.
Declared
elected: Paul A. Paradis
For
Paul G. Murphy received 496
Write-Ins: Each with one vote: Joe Cough, Robert
Collier, Jefferson Hanscom, Elisa Hurley, Kenneth E. Smith, and Toby
Stephenson.
Declared
elected: Paul G. Murphy
For Mount
Vernon S. McFarland, Jr. received 495
Write-Ins: Each with one
vote: John Hanscom, Laurie Wellman, Jane Disney, and Andrea Perry.
Declared
elected:
The
Town Meeting reconvened on
Following their performance, the moderator, Chad
Smith, called the meeting to order at
Article A ELECTION OF WARRANT COMMITTEE MEMBERS - To
elect Warrant Committee members as required by Section C-34 of the Town
Charter.
The moderator reported that the
Michael Blythe Millard
Dority
Cas Dowden Michael
Gurtler
Scott Hammond Edward
Jackson
Lisa John Amanda
Kendall
James Kitler David
Lind
Linda Martin Patricia
Nolan
Robert Nolan Debbie
Rechholtz
Sarah Stanley
Francis Russell Roger
Samuel
Claire Sasner Michael
Siklosi
J. Clark Stivers Brent
Walton
There being no further nominations, it was moved,
duly seconded, and voted to elect the
Article B EDUCATION BUDGET REVENUES: Essential
Programs and Services - To see what sum the voters of the Town of Bar Harbor will appropriate
for the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 8 as
described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act (State Recommends
$2,966,636) and to see what sum the voters of the Town of Bar Harbor will raise
as the municipality’s contribution to the total cost of funding public
education from kindergarten to grade 8 as described in the Essential Programs
and Services Funding Act in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
20-A, section 15688 for the period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
Hand Count Required
School Town Warrant
Recommendations: Committee Council Committee
From Property
Taxes $2,609,086 $2,609,086 $2,609,086
Voted: That the Town
appropriate $2,966,636 and raise $2,609,086 as the Town’s contribution to the
total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 8 as
described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act for the period
July1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.
Hand Count:
YES 217 NO 0
Article C EDUCATION BUDGET REVENUES: Tax Cap
Override – To see what sum the voters
of the Town of Bar Harbor will raise and appropriate in additional local funds
for school purposes (Recommend: $1,397,040) for the period July 1, 2006 to June
30, 2007, which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services funding
model by $1,141,705.
Written Ballot Vote Required
Note:
Articles B & C will
authorize total property tax revenue of $ 4,006,126.
Reason:
To raise additional monies
in order to fully fund the 2006-07 budget.
School Town Warrant
Recommendations: Committee Council Committee
From Property
Taxes $1,397,040 $1,397,040 $1,397,040
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate
$1,397,040 in additional local funds for school purposes for the period July1,
2006 to June 30, 2007, which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and
Services funding model by $1,141,705.
Written
vote:
YES 178 NO 10
Article D EDUCATION BUDGET EXPENDITURES: Total
Expenditures - To see what sum the voters
of the Town of Bar Harbor will authorize the School Committee to expend for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2007, from the Town of
Bar Harbor’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from
kindergarten to grade 8 as described in the Essential Programs and Services
Funding Act, non-state-funded school construction projects, additional local
funds for school purposes under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section
15690, unexpended balances, tuition receipts, state subsidy, and other receipts
for the support of schools.
Hand Count Required
School Town Warrant
Recommendations: Committee Council Committee
Total
Expenditures $4,421,240 $4,421,240 $4,421,240
Voted: That the Town authorize the School Committee
to expend $4,421,240 for the fiscal year beginning July1, 2006 and ending June
30, 2007, from the Town of Bar Harbor’s contribution to the total cost of
funding public education from kindergarten to grade 8 as described in the
Essential Programs and Services Funding Act, non-state-funded school construction
projects, additional local funds for school purposes under the Maine Revised
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15690, unexpended balances, tuition receipts,
state subsidy, and other receipts for the support of schools.
Hand Count:
YES 163 NO 2
Article E EDUCATION BUDGET: State, Federal and
Other Funds - In
addition to the amount in Article D, shall the Town appropriate and authorize
the School Board to expend additional state, federal and other funds received
during the fiscal year 2006-2007 for school purposes, provided that such
additional funds do not require the expenditure of local funds not previously
appropriated?
Hand Count Required
Recommendations:
School Committee recommends
adoption.
Town Council recommends
adoption by a vote of 7 to 0.
The Warrant Committee
recommends adoption by a vote of 18 to 0.
Voted: That the Town in addition to the amount in Article D, appropriate and authorize the School Committee to expend additional state, federal and other funds received during the fiscal year 2006-2007 for school purposes, provided that such additional funds do not require the expenditure of local funds not previously appropriated.
Hand Count:
YES 193 NO 0
Article F MUNICIPAL
BUDGET: Expenditures - To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for the
Municipal Budget for FY07 (
Recommendations: Town Council Warrant Committee
Total Expenditures $7,681,632 $7,634,708
The Warrant Committee
recommended and Chairman Millard Dority moved, and it was duly seconded, to
raise and appropriate $7,634,708 for the Municipal Budget for FY07 (the period
Following much
discussion of the proposed budget, Mr. M. J. McIsaac, representing the YMCA,
moved, and it was duly seconded, to amend the amount stated in the principal
motion be increased by $46,924; to increase the amount of municipal funding for
the YMCA to the amount recommended by the
YES 140 NO 56
Ms. Suzanne Fitzgerald,
representing the American Red Cross, moved, and it was duly seconded, to amend
Article F to include $4,044.00 in support of the Pine Tree Chapter of the Red
Cross. Following a brief summary of their
local services, and the cause of their delayed request, the motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
Dr. Jane Disney, Chair
of Marine Resources Committee, moved, and it was duly seconded, to increase the
Bar Harbor Marine Resources Committee budget by another $900 for a total of
$1,500. Motion carried unanimously by
voice vote.
Mr. David Bowden moved,
and it was duly seconded, that the Highway Division not fill the current
vacancy and that the resulting savings of + $63,000 be used to reduce
taxes. The voice vote was too close to
call. Motion failed by the following
hand count:
YES 51 NO 99
Voted: That the Town raise and appropriate
$7,686,576 for the Municipal Budget for FY07 (the period
Article G MUNICIPAL BUDGET: Other Revenues - To
see what sum the Town will vote to reduce the amount to be raised by taxation
by using estimated revenues and fund balance for the Municipal Budget for FY07
(7/1/06 to 6/30/07).
Recommendations: Town Council Warrant
Committee
Other Revenues $2,910,201 $2,910,201
Fund
Balance $ 34,306 $
34,306
Voted: That the Town reduce the amount to be raised
by taxation by using $2,910,201 from estimated revenues and $34,306 from fund
balance for the Municipal Budget for FY07 (the period 7/1/06 to 6/30/07).
Article H MUNICIPAL BUDGET:
Tax Cap Override – To see if the Town will vote to increase the property tax levy limit
of $4,333,699 established for the Town of
Written
Ballot Vote Required.
Recommendations:
The Town
Council recommends approval, by a vote of 7 to 0.
The Warrant Committee
recommends approval, by a vote of 17 to 0.
Voted: That the Town increase the
property tax levy limit of $4,333,699 established for the Town of
Written
vote:
YES 109 NO 9
Article I MUNICIPAL BUDGET: State, Federal and Other
Funds – In addition to the amount in Article F, shall the voters
appropriate and authorize the Town Council to expend additional state, federal
and other funds received during FY07 (7/1/06 to 6/30/07) for municipal
purposes, provided that such additional funds do not require the expenditure of
local funds not previously appropriated?
Recommendations:
The Town
Council recommends approval, by a vote of 7 to 0.
The Warrant
Committee recommends approval, by a vote of 16 to 1.
Voted:
That the Town in addition to the amount in Article F, appropriate and authorize
the
Article J EARLY TAX PAYMENT DISCOUNT - To see if
the voters will authorize the Tax Collector to accept early payments on the
second half installment by the due date of the first half installment and
provide the taxpayer with a 2.0% discount on the second installment only.
Recommendations:
The Town
Council recommends approval, by a vote of 7 to 0.
The Warrant
Committee recommends approval, by a vote of 17 to 0.
Voted: That the Town authorize the Tax Collector to
accept early payments on the second half installment by the due date of the
first half installment and provide the taxpayer with a 2.0% discount on the
second installment only.
Article K PREPAYMENT OF TAXES - To see if the
Town will vote to accept tax payments prior to the commitment date and to pay
interest on said tax payments in the amount of 0% per year figured on a monthly
basis until the tax commitment date is reached.
Recommendations:
The Town
Council recommends approval, by a vote of 7 to 0.
The Warrant
Committee recommends approval, by a vote of 17 to 0.
Voted:
That the Town accept tax payments prior to the commitment date and to pay
interest on said tax payments in the amount of 0% per year figured on a monthly
basis until the tax commitment date is reached.
Article L TAX DUE DATE AND INTEREST RATE - To see
if the Town will vote that the first half taxes shall be due and payable on or
before September 29, 2006 and that second half taxes shall be due and payable
on or before March 30, 2007 and that interest shall be charged at the annual
rate of 11.0% on any unpaid taxes due on September 29, 2006 beginning October
2, 2006 and on any unpaid taxes due March 30, 2007 beginning April 2, 2007.
Recommendations:
The Town
Council recommends approval, by a vote of 7 to 0.
The Warrant Committee
recommends approval, by a vote of 17 to 0.
Voted: That the Town’s first half taxes shall be due and payable on
or before September 29, 2006 and that second half taxes shall be due and
payable on or before March 30, 2007 and that interest shall be charged at the
annual rate of 11.0% on any unpaid taxes due on September 29, 2006 beginning
October 2, 2006and on any unpaid taxes due March 30, 2007 beginning April 2,
2007.
Article M OVERPAYMENT OF TAXES - To see if the
Town will vote to establish the interest rate to be paid to a taxpayer who is
determined to have paid an amount of real estate taxes in excess of the amount
finally assessed for 2006 at 11.0% per year on the amount of overpayment.
Recommendations:
The Town
Council recommends approval, by a vote of 7 to 0.
The Warrant Committee
recommends approval, by a vote of 17 to 0.
Voted: That the Town establish
the interest rate to be paid to a taxpayer who is determined to have paid an
amount of real estate taxes in excess of the amount finally assessed for 2006
at 11.0% per year on the amount of overpayment.
There being no further
business, it was moved and duly seconded to adjourn the meeting at
Attest:
Patricia A. Gray, Town
Clerk of
