The past year has been a true learning experience at the Lamoine Town Office. Our town has grown, significantly, in the past two years, and the part time staff we’ve added aids in handling our day-to-day operations. During 2003 Town Clerk and Tax Collector Hubene Brodie retired in September, leaving a huge void to fill, and no Friday morning coffee & muffins! Her assistant, Kathleen DeFusco has been a tremendous help and a lot of fun to work with since her hire in February. She’s a quick study, and a true, good-hearted character. To replace Hubene, we hired Jennifer Kovacs, who will fill the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s position effective January 1, 2004. I held the titles while Jennifer was in training, and she’s also proved to be a quick, accurate learner and a delightful co-worker. The three of us make a good team.
As the town has grown, so have the roles of its various boards and committees, and the town office staff has come to play a key role in the preparation for their meetings. The comments from the likes of the Planning and Appeals Boards that they have the materials they need ahead of time are a great source of pride. While the process of local government might seem a bit cumbersome at times, we’ve learned well this year that the process is very important to follow to protect both the town and individual.
The Board of Selectmen has been very supportive and progressive this year. They’re to be commended for tackling problems head on, and turning them into opportunities. The Selectmen approved seeking health insurance benefits for this position to better compete with the open market for employees. When the town’s web page provider no longer would provide the service, the Board approved seeking training and ultimately a new web page, which is much better than what we had. I shall miss Tom Spruce, who’s retiring from the Board this spring. He’s brought quiet, practical insight to the board, and we’ve enjoyed suffering through many Red Sox seasons together.
On a personal note, I’ve been flattered to be asked to serve on a pair of statewide professional boards of directors – those of the Maine Town and City Management Association and the Maine Municipal Tax Collectors’ and Treasurers’ Association. Since “retiring” from the radio business I’ve been able to devote more time to the Town Hall, arriving earlier in the morning. There has been more time to spend with my family, start a small, home-based business and I was able to become a certified baseball umpire this year, and greatly enjoyed working games for Lamoine and other schools this past season.
I look forward to a prosperous 2004 for the town. Our goals in the office are to make sure we deliver the appropriate service accurately and quickly, and to assist our citizens in finding the answers they need if we can. We’re always open to constructive suggestions, and look forward to providing you with superior municipal services.
Stu Marckoon,
Adm. Asst. to the Selectmen