FARMINGTON – Following three public hearings on amendments to the town’s ordinances and tax increment finance district beginning tonight at 6:30 p.m., selectmen will vote on their final recommendations for the proposed budget.
Among the items up for discussion are funding requests from the American Red Cross and the Abused Women’s Advocacy Program. Thus far, selectmen have recommended cutting the funding to the Red Cross to $2,000, from a request of $3,500, and cutting AWAP’s request of $5,000 down to $3,000. The budget committee has already recommended that the agencies receive no funding in the coming year.
After much debate at the annual town meeting last year, AWAP’s funding was cut completely by a close majority vote. AWAP’s $5,000 funding request was restored after a citizen petition forced a re-vote and it easily passed at a well-attended special town meeting last summer.
An explanation included in this year’s draft warrant, regarding funding requests for the Red Cross and AWAP, said, “A majority of the budget committee believes that donations to charitable organizations should be by individual choice rather than through an involuntary property tax.”
That idea was voiced by some of those opposed to funding AWAP last year at both town meetings. Others opposed to the funding said AWAP had a disproportionate amount of money going toward administrative costs when compared to the number of Farmington residents served. Others noted the lack of an AWAP representative attending the meeting was interpreted to mean there simply wasn’t interest in the town’s funding. It was explained later that AWAP mistakenly thought they wouldn’t be allowed to speak at the meeting.
Overall, the town’s total proposed budget of $4,353,759 is $1,350 less than the current budget.
The public hearings include a discussion, and vote, on an amended TIF district to include the Farmington Grange hall on Bridge Street in West Farmington. Grangers are asking that their historic Grange building be designated a tax increment financing district and use $10,000 of Farmington’s TIF funds to pay for the building’s improvement upgrades so a year-round farmers’ market can be located there.
The second public hearing will discuss a barking dog amendment proposed for the town’s animal control ordinance. This comes following complaints of 20 barking and howling sled dogs that moved into a Whittier Road neighborhood last summer. The draft, used by other municipalities, defines chronic dog barking, outlines a procedure for complaints, possible resolutions and imposes progressively stiffer fines, if owners are found to be in continual violation.
The third public hearing will discuss the town’s shoreland zoning ordinance, proposing amendments to align the town’s version with the state’s model. Voters at the last annual town meeting sent the proposed amendments back to the drawing board after some said more study was needed before changes could be made.
AWAP, AH-WAP ……….. A-WAP WAP WAP
Looks like they’re are going to be beat down again.
Why is it AWAP only goes to towns like Farmington and Wilton to ask for money instead of reaching out to the towns that are farther away like Rangeley, Avon, Strong and those even farther away for funds? Wilton put their foot down and told AWAP no on funds and the police went and got their own grant to help with Domestic Violence issues – Way to Go Wilton PD!
Why can’t Franklin County get a new agency to support the communities in this county on DV? Why have an agency that covers 3 counties, but puts more effort in the county that their admin office is in? In Franklin County, there is no admin support and no management support here, to reach them you have to either go to Androscoggin or call them. In Androscoggin there are at least three advocates, 2 in the main office and 1 housed at DHHS, then there is at least 1 person doing school based programs – but no programs in Franklin County schools are runned by AWAP, unless this has changed in the last 6 months – thank goodness SAVES has our back in this county – THANK YOU SAVES FOR WONDERFUL SERVICES!
AWAP in Androscoggin attends many fairs and events and the “directors” go to make “awareness and to show their presents” but in Franklin County the directors only come when money is needed or when the agency is looked down upon . . . WHEN WILL FRANKLIN COUNTY GET THE SAME ATTENTION, WHEN WILL THE TOWNS WHO SUPPORT AND GIVE MONEY REALLY SEE THESE THINGS HAPPEN?
There is a whole world in Androscoggin that helps victims and their familes with shelter and supplies because the management team fights for it, but in Franklin we don’t hear about the need for shelter being pressed forward by AWAP, instead we have to send people an hour or more away . . . in Androscoggin there are resources where victims can go and get free clothing and bedding at one of the AWAP locations, but in Franklin there are none by AWAP . . .
Maybe our County should look at putting our money towards volunteers and supplies to help victims, looking for volunteers with some legal knowledge or background to help with advocating with a victim in court on PFA/PFH days by using our legal system to help work with the volunteers . . . LETS SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES FIRST . . .