On March 31, Isle au Haut residents and visitors gathered for the annual town meeting. By the time voting was underway, over 40 people had settled in, most attempting to gain coveted back-row seats.
Though 79 articles were put before the 27 registered attendees, the meeting ran a relatively efficient five and a half hours, not including the hour-long lunch break. The first hour and a half of the meeting was spent nominating and electing town officials; this year, however, “re-electing” would be the most accurate term. Among those continuing in their positions: Sue MacDonald, town clerk; Belvia MacDonald, first selectman; Steve Schaffer, second selectman; Jason Barter, third selectman; Ben MacDonald, treasurer; Lisa Turner, tax collector; Debra Schrader and Tina Tully, tax assessors; Bill Stevens, road commissioner; Susan MacDonald, Kate Schaffer (a.k.a. Catherine Gerteis), Dianne Barter and Kirsten Barter, school board members.
After a short break, Superintendent Robert Webster addressed voters, relaying the good news that Isle au Haut will receive a Special Education subsidy of approximately $14,000, which it did not receive the previous year. Still, it is only half of the expected subsidy, due to state budget shortfalls. With little comment, the voters passed the school budget of $258,290, $200,858 of which will come from taxation — about $8,000 less than the prior year.
George Cole, of the Isle au Haut Boat Company, announced that the service had been added to a federal program to support rural transportation, which would fund up to $58,000 of the company’s costs. The boat company is the first ferry service to be part of the program. But because of the fast rising price of fuel, the company has decided to raise rates for the first time in five years: on July 1, resident one-way rates will increase by 50 cents while non-resident rates will increase by $1. The voters seemed pleased that the increase was so small, and gave a large round of applause and a $25,000 contribution to the company.
Continuing in an assenting mood, the voters passed all remaining articles, with the exception of one, an authorization dismissed as unnecessary. They raised $218,247.50 for municipal purposes. Major expenses include $65,000 for administration, $22,000 for waste disposal, $21,500 for town roads and bridges, and $15,500 for Colwell Ramp Access.
The most heated discussion concerned articles that supported the $41,000 purchase of land from George Lamson. The purchase was previously approved by voters during a special town meeting in December, and the articles in question were to cover the cost of borrowing. The price had been set by an appraiser, and some town residents felt it was ridiculously high given the poor state of the buildings on the property. The articles still passed, 12-3-1, by far the narrowest margin of the meeting.