On Monday November 21, 2022 there will be a special town meeting in New Gloucester with three monetary articles. The first two articles are related to the purchase of a new ambulance. To refresh everyone’s memory the ambulance was voted on at our last regular town meeting and was approved. From there the process went downhill. The amount was not enough for what the fire department wanted. Notice, I said wanted. When the bids came in for what the fire department wanted the town had not raised enough money. The bid process even had to be done twice because direction from the Municipal Officers was not followed. The direction, as I understood, was the fire department was to try to work with the number that was approved. Instead of going out to bid a second time for an ambulance that would fit our needs and what was approved at town meeting, a hurried process took place to try to justify a higher amount and out to bid it went. Of course the new numbers came in high again because nothing really changed. The voters are now going to be asked to approve $120,688.00 additional money for an ambulance at a special Town meeting with more than likely a smaller attendance when it really should go to a Regular meeting so the total cost could be discussed. Oh by the way it is just free money….ARPA funds or undesignated.
The last article is for the good people to approve over half million dollars for paving. Approve over half million dollars for paving in November? Over half a million dollars for paving without going thru CIP or Budget committee? Over half a million dollars for paving at a special town meeting? Again this will be taken out of Undesignated Fund balance. Do the Municipal Officers believe this money is a magic money stash that someone will keep filling? Someone else other than us?
When the Charter Commission was discussing the town meeting process there were many people who did not want a town meeting anymore. I myself advocated for the Town meeting to remain but when you see a “Special” meeting being called for these low urgency items not going thru our budget process it gives credibility to those who said that these meetings are used to get something passed because of low attendance.
Thank you,
Don Libby
*This is a guest post by Donald Libby. The views expressed are those of Donald Libby, and not endorsed by the New Gloucester GOP. The New Gloucester GOP supports the right of individuals to submit guest blog posts freely, and without censorship. If you are interested in sharing an article, or post please send all submissions to newgloucestergop@gmail.com
This was NOT the definition of urgency