 |
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF GORHAM TOWN COUNCIL
May 14, 2002
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Roll Call of Council: Present: Chairman Phinney; Councilors Alden, Justice, Loveitt, Dugas, Willett and Robinson; the Town Manager and the Town Clerk
The meeting adjourned for a Public Hearing on the proposed Municipal Budget for the July 1, 2002
Bill Neily, Chairman of the School Committee, spoke on the school budget. There was no other public comment. The public hearing closed at 7:40 p.m.
Item #6648. The order, as read aloud by the Clerk, was moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Dugas.
Moved by Councilor Hamblen, seconded by Councilor Robinson and VOTED to amend the proposed order by lowering the County tax figure by $4,539 to $595,692. 7 yeas.
Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Hamblen and VOTED to amend the proposed order by moving $8,000 from the Capital Improvements Part II Budget, Robie Gym Acoustical Improvements line and establish a supplemental appropriation to replace the Fire Chief
Moved by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Justice and VOTED to amend the proposed order by removing the remaining $10,521 from the Capital Improvements Part II Budget, Robie Gym Acoustical Improvements. 7 yeas.
Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Loveitt and VOTED to amend the proposed order by reducing the School Budget by $406,100 by moving the school
Prior to the above amending motion a motion by Councilor Loveitt to amend the proposed amendment to remove the safety alarms from consideration FAILED due to lack of second.
Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED to amend the proposed order by adding repairs to baseball back stops and fences in place of the $10,521 from the Robie Gym Acoustical Improvements account. 6 yeas. 1 nay (Willett)
Moved by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED to amend the proposed order by deleting from the Undesignated Account $10,000 for Banners and Flags. 6 yeas. 1 nay (Willett).
Moved by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Willett and VOTED to amend the proposed order by adding $4,394 to the Part-Time Line in the Town Clerk
Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Hamblen and VOTED to amend the proposed order by reducing the school budget by $160,000. 4 yeas. 3 nays (Willett, Justice and Loveitt).
The order, as amended was then VOTED resulting in the following:
ORDERED that the Town Council vote to adopt the 2002-2003 Fiscal Year Budget with the following departmental totals:
General Government $ 910,393
Public Safety 2,427,430
Public Works and Solid Waste 1,896,245
Health & Welfare and Social Service Agencies 110,070
Recreation/Cable 264,019
Libraries and Museum 307,053
Planning and Development 231,110
Debt & Interest 304,527
Capital Items 894,337
Insurance 1,361,900
Other Town Services and Unclassified 148,526
Education 21,293,270
Cumberland County Property Tax 595,692
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Gorham Town Council authorize the Gorham School Committee to expend during the fiscal period July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 for support of the public schools $21,293,270 and additional operating expenditures which may result from Federal, State or other grants and subsidies not requiring local taxation; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town of Gorham authorize the School Committee to expend for the fiscal year July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003 from the foundation allocation, debt service allocation, unexpended balances, and other sources of revenue and receipts for the support of schools and adult education, a total of $10,708,260; that the Town Council raise and appropriate a local share of the foundation allocation of $ 7,426,649 including local share of debt service $347,019 and additional local funds of $3,158,361 including $115,880 for adult education; that the revenues from the state allocation of $10,126,260, balances and miscellaneous receipts of $525,000; and that adult education subsidy and fees of $57,000 be used for education purposes. This budget does not include the
estimated amount of $1,879,766 in employer share of teacher retirement costs that is paid directly by the State.
The total budget to be $ 30,744,572. This total less estimated credits of $15,428,419 and a transfer from Surplus of $380,000 result in a Net Appropriation of $14,936,153 which shall be raised by assessment on the estates of resident and nonresident property owners in the Town of Gorham, and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council vote to adopt the Capital Budget Part II in the amount of $677,821 to be funded from the Town
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that $256,100 be re-appropriated from the following Special Revenue Fund Reserves, $91,675 from Village School Parking and $164,425 from Revaluation Reserve, for the purpose of School Capital Improvements as follows: $101,100 Safety Alarms, $36,000 New Portable Leases, $55,000 Carpet Replacement, $30,000 Used Vehicles Maintenance, $24,000 Resurface Track and $10,000 Fix Tennis Courts,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that all taxes on real estate and personal property shall be due and payable upon approval of this Order and that one-half of all real estate and personal property taxes that remain unpaid on October 15, 2002 shall commence bearing interest on October 16, 2002, and that the final half of all real estate and personal property taxes that remain unpaid on May 15, 2003, shall commence bearing interest on May 16, 2003 at an interest rate of eight and three-quarters percent (8.75%) per annum as authorized by Maine Law until paid and collected and the Tax Collector and Treasurer are authorized to collect and receive thereof; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council authorizes the Finance Director to accept prepayment of real and personal property taxes; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to Title 36, M.R.S.A., Section 506A, the Town Council establishes an interest rate of four and three-quarters percent (4.75%) per annum to be paid on all real estate and personal property taxes rebated due to overpayment of taxes.
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to Title 36, M.R.S.A., Section 906, the Town Council hereby require and direct that any tax payment received from an individual as payment for any property tax be applied against outstanding or delinquent taxes due on that property in chronological order beginning with the oldest unpaid tax bill, provided, however, that no such payment shall be applied to any tax for which an abatement application or appeal is pending unless approved in writing by the taxpayer. This order shall remain in effect until rescinded by the Municipal Officers. 4 yeas. 3 nays (Willett, Justice and Loveitt).
Prior to the above vote a motion by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Justice to amend the proposed order by deleting $125,000 from the Fire Truck Replacement Reserve Account under Capital Improvements FAILED OF PASSAGE. 3 yeas. 4 nays (Hamblen, Robinson, Phinney and Dugas)
Likewise a motion by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Robinson to amend the proposed order by deleting the Files Road bridge repairs from the budget FAILED OF PASSAGE. 2 yeas. 5 nays (Hamblen, Phinney, Willett, Justice and Dugas).
Likewise a motion by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Hamblen to amend the proposed order by changing the school budget figure to $21,850,270 FAILED OF PASSAGE. 3 yeas. 4 nays (Phinney, Loveitt, Justice and Willett)
Likewise a motion by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Hamblen to amend the proposed order by reducing the municipal budget by $50,000 and the school budget by $318,000 FAILED OF PASSAGE. 2 yeas. 5 nays (Phinney, Willett, Loveitt, Justice and Dugas).
Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED to adjourn. 7 yeas. Time of adjournment
A TRUE RECORD OF MEETING Attest: D. Brenda Caldwell Town Clerk
| |
