One hundred and thirty-nine voters gathered at Long Island’s community center on May 10 to consider 66 warrant articles at the annual town meeting. It was the island’s 16th such meeting; 2008 marks the 15th year since the town’s incorporation in 1993.
Bradley Brown was elected selectman, defeating two-term incumbent Ruth Peterson 76-56. Thomas Hohn was unanimously elected to a three-year term on the school committee. A petition to convert the jobs of treasurer, tax collector, and town clerk to elected positions was defeated 43-74.
Voters approved a large slate of financial articles with little discussion. Finance committee chairman Paul Riley explained that with new property valuations taking effect this year, the finance committee sought to avoid raising taxes. Voters approved a property tax levy of $839,721.
“With the cost of fuel, that was not the easiest thing to do,” Riley said.
Voters approved one additional expenditure of $24,000 to secure matching funds from the state’s Small Harbor Improvement Program (S.H.I.P). The money will provide initial funding for rehabilitating Ponce’s Landing, which is currently the only town-owned wharf on the island.
Voters authorized the selectmen to create a position for a town administrator, subject to funding in the next fiscal year. Selectboard chair Michael Floyd said the selectmen were ready for professional assistance in running the town. “Some of it is common sense, but where it comes to legislative and political issues, common sense isn’t always the way to go,” he said.
Two articles by the year-round housing committee also passed, allowing the group to swap and reconfigure two town-owned lots with an abutter on Fowler Road and authorizing the use of three additional parcels for a ground-lease homestead program.
Two citizens’ petitions – one calling for a change in the lot requirements for multifamily housing and another calling for professional studies on the impact of zoning changes – were discussed but awaited voting by secret ballot on May 19. Voters would also make a final decision on the school budget articles at that time, in accordance with the new school consolidation law.
Helen Kay, President of the Long Island Civic Association, presented the Francis “Tiny” Murphy Citizenship award to Warren Brayley, a World War II veteran and devoted servant of the Long Island community.
“In his dependable and unassuming way, Warren has taken on tasks big and small. He is the first to volunteer for what the island needs,” Kay said.
Around noon, the meeting was interrupted by a fire call for a brush fire on the back side of the island.
“This is your tax dollars at work, folks!” shouted Fire Chief Dick Clarke as firefighters ran for the door. The fire was extinguished after an hour and a half and department members rejoined the meeting to tumultuous applause.