State Approves Funding For School Upgrades

(Lamoine) - Defying the odds, the aging Lamoine Consolidated School has qualified for an interest free loan to perform critical renovations on the school building. In a June 6th letter from Education Commission Susan Gendron, school officials learned that the town would be approved for a total package of $652,300. The town would only have to pay back $456,610, and that portion would be interest free over 10-years. The Maine Municipal Bond Bank would be utilized to finance the loan package.

The state approved four areas for funding, including renovations to the roof system, the heating and ventilation systems, the electrical system, and the water and septic systems. All four of those areas were identified by the school and its building committee as in critical need of repair and renovation for safety reasons.

In a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen last December, school board members and staff identified many other areas that need improvement in the school building. The priorities being funded through the state loan were quite evident. Principal Val Perkins also pointed out numerous space needs. The school building committee conducted a survey of staff, students, town officials and others to see what priorities exist to repair the school. At the top of the list was a new gym with a fine arts area and stage. The next most important priority was to replace the two portable classrooms with permanent space. Improving the parking and student drop off areas were the third priority.

School Board members and Union 92 officials attended a Selectmen's meeting in late June to discuss the process the town must follow to utilize the state funding. A special town meeting will be needed to approve the bonding package. No date has yet been set for that. The School Committee will look for an architect to design the specifications for the needed repairs, and possibly present a full package to the town for approval.

Showing Off The School

Last December Principal Val Perkins led Selectmen and the public on a tour of the school to show the deficient areas

Superintendent Of Schools Retires

(Ellsworth) — School Union 92 Superintendent Bill Fowler has announced his retirement from the post he's held for the past 8-years. Fowler is in charge of 6-schools in the system, including Lamoine, Surry, Hancock, Trenton, Eastbrook/Waltham (SAD 26's Cave Hill School), and Otis/Mariaville (Beech Hill School). He came to the Union 92 job from a similar post in the Howland area.

The job is a taxing one, with six school committees to keep happy and numerous board meetings to attend every month. Additionally, he's responsible for hiring the staff at the Union 92 office and for the hiring process at each school, with building administrators to recommend to the school board. Fowler says increasing state and federal regulation of schools has made the job frustrating. He and his wife plan to move back to his native Pittsfield. Omar Norton who served as interim superintendent prior to Fowler's arrival, will serve until a search committee can find a replacement.

Retiring School Superintendent Bill Fowler

Special Town Meeting Approves Funding

(Lamoine) — The Lamoine Fire Station will get a roof job this summer. Voters at a special town meeting in June amended and approved spending $16,800 for a roof replacement. The Selectmen awarded the job to Lamoine resident and volunteer firefighter Michael Jordan. His was not the lowest of the bids submitted, but was within a few hundred dollars of a pair of out-of-town bidders. Jordan also was the only bidder to suggest the ice and water shield for the entire surface, which added $3,000 to the cost, but years of life to the roof.

Voters also approved spending an additional $20,000 to pave Seal Point Road. Higher oil prices are blamed for increasing the cost from original estimates. Money for both projects will come from existing funds.

Flags Adorn Lamoine For the 4th

(Lamoine) — The Board of Selectmen voted to purchase 20-flags and brackets to display in time for the Independence Day holiday. Selectman Richard Fennelly Jr. floated the idea that was swiftly endorsed by the rest of the board. The flags cost $760, and Selectman Fennelly picked them up and installed them with Administrative Assistant Stu Marckoon on June 27th. The flags were placed on Route 184 by the school and town offices, and Fennelly hopes to put in more in the future.

Showing Off the Colors

Selectman Richard Fennelly Jr. installs one of the 20 new flags purchased by the town

TABOR Looms

(Augusta) - The State Supreme Court has ruled that enough valid signatures were presented to force a statewide referendum vote on the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights. The vote will come during the gubernatorial election in November.

The question, if passed, would impose additional limits to the amount of money local, county and state government can spend. It would require a super-majority vote (2/3rds) to override the limit. To raise fees such as the cost of photocopies would require a town meeting vote and a 2/3rd majority. Opposition to the measure has been swift and widespread from local school and government organizations.

Written Complaints To Be Required

(Lamoine) — Folks who think there might be a violation of a town ordinance for the Code Enforcement Officer to investigate will have to put it in writing. The Board of Selectmen are expected to give final approval to a policy requiring that complaints be in writing. A copy of the policy will be posted on the town's website (www.lamoine-me.gov), along with the complaint form to be developed by town staff.

There are several reasons to require a written complaint, but the basic need is for a paper trail for the Code Enforcement Officer to start his investigation. The complaint form has spaces for the date, the name of the complainant, the nature of the complaint, and where the alleged violation has occurred.

Once the Code Enforcement Officer receives the complaint, he will then investigate and issue a written report to both the complainant and the owner of the property upon which the complaint has been filed. If further action is necessary such as a notice of violation and/or a stop work order, those documents can then be issued.

Town office staff will be instructed to supply a complaint form to people calling with inquiries. Anonymous complaints will no longer be taken, though staff may generate a complaint based on their own knowledge.