A sunny spring day did not deter 109 Islesboro voters from turning out for Town Meeting on April 9. Moderator Marc Schnur presided over the nearly five-hour meeting at Kinnicutt Center. Voters filled two positions each on the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, as well as budget items, land use changes and a gymnasium floor.
Andrew Coombs won a second term as selectman, while Vicki Conover won the spot Grayson Hartley left open when he chose not to run for re-election. Grayson Hartley served on the Board of Selectmen for six years and as chairman for five. Cathy Dove Adams and Julie Reidy were re-elected to their School Committee positions.
Voters were asked to authorize exceeding the property tax levy limit established by state law for Islesboro in case the town passed the selectmen’s budget. The selectmen’s budget was $21,952.39 over the state’s limit. Chairman Hartley said the selectmen debated what they thought the town would want, and said it was up to the voters to decide if they agreed with the selectmen. If the town decided to go with the state’s cap, voters would need to make over $20,000 worth of cuts as they went through the warrant. Islesboro resident Bill Tilden said that he would like to limit taxes and thought the town should abide by the state cap. Tilden said his property taxes went up 20 percent last year, and requested that residents who are “well-off have compassion for those that aren’t.” Despite Tilden’s efforts, the town voted to exceed the state’s recommendations.
Voters passed Article 23 to allow Islesboro to exceed the State’s Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding allocation. According to Islesboro Central School Superintendent Donald Kanicki, the State’s EPS model is for a school with many more students than Islesboro, and schools above and below the model numbers don’t fit into it. Cost per pupil is higher in smaller schools. Kanicki added that the EPS model is the “state’s way of trying to give tax relief to help us appropriate school funding…based on a model that is not perfect for small schools.”
The state’s 55 percent educational funding formula represents the total cost statewide. Each town receives funds according to its wealth, as measured by the state’s property valuation. Because its valuation is very high, Hartley said, “Islesboro will never get 55 percent of anything.” Hartley added that if Islesboro residents “want to maintain a school, you have to pay. The higher your state valuation, the more you pay [for education]. If people don’t like it, it must be changed in the legislature.”
A lengthy discussion ensued on Article 25 for a $50,000 gymnasium floor. School Committee chairperson Cathy Dove Adams said the current floor was 19 years old and was only supposed to have lasted ten years. Some voters said the floor was supposed to be wet-mopped and wasn’t, and that led to its deterioration, though Dove Adams said it had been properly maintained.
Kathy Johnson, who coaches basketball at the school, said the floor was too slippery and boys’ basketball teams have said they won’t return unless a new floor is installed. Acknowledging her opinion wouldn’t be popular, Johnson added that the basketball court was not regulation size and if the town was going to replace the floor, it should think about increasing the court to regulation size. A regulation court would allow Islesboro to host games if they made it to playoffs.
A few voters said that if safety was an issue, a new floor should be installed.
After the School Committee reported that it had only one price estimate for the floor, Hartley recommended postponing action until the floor was addressed in a facilities report, where it could be looked at in its entirety. Town Manager Marnie Diffin requested that a package be brought back that can address other needs in the gym as well.
Many voters had left by the time the new floor went to a vote. The article failed on a tie, 33-33, with one void vote.
Land use ordinance changes included no commercial campgrounds on Islesboro and a requirement of 150 feet of road frontage (which includes a right of way or private way) for lots on the island.
Selectman Andrew Coombs clarified statements made regarding possible new moorings for Islesboro residents traveling to Lincolnville. He said communication had just begun with Lincolnville and no certainty existed in what would come of the workshops and meetings. Islesboro would like to help Lincolnville to provide better access.
Alyson Mayo is an Island Institute fellow on Islesboro.