The Swan’s Island School gym was packed as townspeople convened to hold an annual Town Meeting on March 5
to approve over $1,400,000 in town expenditures. The citizens voted on 34 articles and debated an unofficial 35th article on affordable housing. They also elected new and returning officials. Nancy Carter returns for a second term as a selectwoman, Gwen May was elected tax collector, George Anderson was voted to the school board, and Joe Staples and Terry Staples were chosen for the planning board.
Most of the articles passed with little debate, although some sparked some discussion.
The biggest deliberations of the day were on law enforcement, the family subsidy policy and affordable housing. Although accolades were bestowed upon members of the police department, many citizens felt that more oversight of the department was needed. The budget for the police department was approved narrowly, 41-39.
The family subsidy policy, in which parents are reimbursed directly for sending their children to sectarian schools, also passed, but some voters questioned its constitutionality.
Last year, the town also appointed members to an affordable housing committee, but the committee resigned en masse due to a disagreement with the selectmen. This year there was a call to activate the committee again, but there were no volunteers.
As always, one of the largest budget items was the removal of waste. In addition to transferring trash off the island, Selectman Dexter Lee recommended that to avoid illegal dumping of large, hazardous household trash, money also be raised to build a shed at the transfer station. Lee explained that the shed will house items like television sets until disposal of such items is scheduled. The voters approved the measure.
In one of the most hotly contested battles at town meeting, Josh and Christal Applin won a raffle for a new skiff. The skiff, built by Bobby Treadwell, was auctioned off to support the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. this year. And as an extra bonus, Christal happily remembered that the blue color of the skiff was the same color as the boat of her late father, Kenny LeMoine. The 6-8 class also sold goodies and coffee to support the trip.