Monhegan residents gathered April 16 for their annual plantation meeting. The election of First Assessor presented some obstacles, with the first seven nominees declining to run. At one point it was humorously suggested that instead of a First, Second, and Third Assessor, perhaps they should elect Second, Third, and Fourth Assessors. In the end Daniel Murdock, Lucas Chioffi, and Chris Rollins were elected, and bring significant experience to the jobs.
Longtime school board member Kathie Krause elected to take a year off, and nominated Jessica Stevens for the post. Jessica was elected, and brings experience working with the school as a volunteer and assistant over the last two years, as an Island Institute Fellow.
The proposed budget passed as recommended, with a 17 percent increase in expenditures bringing next year’s school costs to $140,373. The solid waste and road care budgets are also increasing slightly.
Wharf repairs will decline from $60,000 to $20,000, reflecting a significant amount of work in the past year.
Salaries for officers, plantation expenses and fire department expenses remained the same. The Plantation also approved donations to a number of off-island organizations, including Maine Public Broadcasting, the Mid-Coast Mental Health Center, and the Central Maine Area on Aging. Following the meeting there was a spirited public discussion concerning the lack of available year-round housing on the island, and ways to address that issue.
Two local political candidates also made the trip out to the island to do a little pre-election stumping at the meeting. Les Fossel of Alna, Republican hopeful for state Senate District 16, and Gene Boothby, a Republican running for the House of Representatives District 56 seat, met with residents and distributed election information.