RANGELEY – Nearly 60 voters passed all the articles of the annual town meeting warrant Thursday evening within two and half hours, including a 3 percent cost-of-living raise for town employees the budget committee didn’t want.
Selectmen recommended giving the across-the-board 3 percent raise to town employees. The budget committee voted to not give the raise, citing the difficult economic times.
“We asked the town manger for a zero increase in the budget. This budget is $75,000 less than last year and still includes the 3 percent raise,” said Selectman Chairman Donald Nuttall. “They deserve the raise.”
Voters agreed and overwhelmingly voted for the raise.
There was no discussion when it came to the big ticket item – a tandem dump truck with plow and sander unit that asked that no more than $100,000 be raised to purchase the truck. Another $50,000 for the balance of the truck was already set aside in the Highway Department’s reserve account.
Quite a bit of discussion swirled around the question of funding the Rangeley Lakes Cross Country Ski Club’s request of $10,000. The club maintains ski trails at the ski center on Dallas Hill Road and holds high school cross country skiing championships and other events year round.
An attempt to cut the funding to $1,000 by resident Patricia Quinn failed. She argued, along with Nuttall, that $10,000 is a lot of money and that, according to Quinn, the club promised to be self-sufficient by now.
Others in favor of the expenditure, said the investment brings in tourism money that more than covers the amount.
“We should be working to bring people here,” resident Jim Protor said in support. Voters agreed and the amount of $10,000 was raised.
A request from the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce for the town raise $25,000 in advertising to promote the region easily passed with no discussion, as did the following article to amend the town’s shoreland areas, as required by the state.
The final article sparked a little discussion on a request by prospective buyers to change the zoning for a lot under contract to be changed from a village and shoreland zone to a downtown commercial zone.
The lot in question is located in Oquossoc on Shore Road between the Oquossoc Marina and Flybuck Camps, a five-condominium-unit development. Saddleback is the potential buyer.
A neighbor spoke out against the zoning change, noting the lot abuts the condo development he lives at and is mostly wetlands. He said he worried about too much being built in a relatively small area and that the quiet residential area now is not suited for a business.
Robert Griscom, the town’s code enforcement officer, reminded voters the zoning change still needs the approval of the state DEP and the town’s planning board.
Voters decided by 38-27 to allow the zoning change.
