CLINTON — Voters at Town Meeting will decide whether to pursue upgrades for a park, restore road spending and elect two selectmen.
And that’s just for starters.
The Town Meeting will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the town office, 27 Baker St., and it coincides with state primary elections.
During the referendum-style vote, residents will consider 41 articles. If all are passed, voters will approve nearly $2.1 million dollars, an increase of about $200,000. The new property tax rate would increase $1.64 to $16.18 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
It represents a $164 increase for the owner of a $100,000 home currently paying $1,454 in property taxes.
Town Manager Aaron Chrostowsky said there are two articles regarding Old Mill Park and proposed upgrades to its park furniture, lighting, sidewalks and more. To fund the project, voters will decide whether to appropriate $75,000 from the tax increment financing district that covers the Formtek facility on Hinckley Road, and whether to approve a $150,000 community development block grant. The town does not have to provide matching funds for the grant, Chrostowsky said.
Voters Tuesday also will be asked whether to fund road maintenance at previous levels. In 2008, the annual road fund had been cut from $200,000 to $65,000. Now, the town hopes to return $135,000 to the fund for a maintenance project on Horseback Road and other potential projects on Johnson Flat Road and Mutton Lane.
“(Horseback Road) is in fairly good shape except for a few bad spots,” Chrostowsky said. “If we don’t do anything, eventually we’ll have to do a full reconstruction, which would cost a lot more.”
If approved, the restored road fund will increase the property tax rate by $1.23, Chrostowsky said. Everything else on the warrant results in a 41-cent property tax rate increase.
“It’s a fairly significant increase, but we feel it’s worth it,” he said.
Next, voters will consider whether to allow town residents access to low-interest loans from Efficiency Maine. The loans are intended for home-improvements that increase energy efficiency.
“There would be no tax impact on residents of Clinton,” he said of the ordinance. “This money is generated from electric utility rates, and it goes to Efficiency Maine — an independent trust fund.
“If we don’t pass this ordinance, residents of Clinton can’t access this fund.”
Voters will also consider a wind ordinance. If passed, the ordinance would set limits on sound levels and property setbacks from abutting properties.
“It will make it a little more strict for wind developers to come in,” Chrostowsky said. “We just want to protect residents.”
In a ballot initiative, voters will also consider whether to authorize liquor licenses.
“Right now we’re considered a somewhat dry town,” Chrostowsky said. “In other words, we can’t have bars until we get approval from the voters.”
Unlike other articles, the selectmen and the budget committee did not offer a recommendation on the liquor issue, but their silence shouldn’t be perceived as significant, Chrostowsky said.
“They didn’t feel it was their purview, because it was a voter petition,” he said.
Five candidates, two positions
There are two open seats on the five-person board of selectmen — a two-year term and a three-year term — and both positions are contested.
Competing for the two-year term, which is currently held by Selectman Geraldine Dixon Budget, are Roger Barber, committee member, and Randy Clark, a former selectman.
Dixon is running this year for the two-year seat that is currently held by Dave Watson, who is not running for re-election. Dixon faces Eva St. Jean and Mike Walton in a three-way race.
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
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