Annual Town - Regular Meeting

Before we start the actual town meeting, we're going to have Alex talk for a few minutes. This is his first year here, so he'll explain what he actually does.

Thanks all. Hi. For all of you that don't know me already, my name is Alex Kimball. I am the somewhat new town manager. And don't worry, I'm not going to take too long here, I promise. I took over the job from Derlin Lunt back in the fall, to whom this year's town report is dedicated. And I'm not going to spend a lot of additional time talking about Derlin, singing Derlin's praises tonight. I think we all know it. I think we all recognize what he's done for this town. And it's really an honor to be able to carry on after him. So I think one more time, thank you, Derlin. And I'm looking for where he was in the audience. Where is he? There he is. Thank you, Derlin. I'd also like to mention one more new face and one whom will be departing us soon. The new face is Nancy Parsons, who has taken over as our finance director. She took over back in January from Mayweiler. She's returning home to Maine from an excellent career further south and has fit into our team perfectly from the get-go. So we're really thrilled to have her here. Thank you, Nancy. This is also... This is also going to be the final town meeting for Chief Mike Bender. Mike is responsible for the fire EMS department we have today. We never would have gotten through such a difficult and necessary transition without him. And so we'd just like to thank Mike for everything. He'll be leaving us not until the fall, but that'll be after the next town meeting. So I'd just like to mention that with him. And he's trying to hide behind me. A little off base or off topic, but I was also told to mention that in the upcoming primary, independents can vote. Just as a side note there, something that's pretty new. So that's the pre-meeting business. Another thing that we're going to do a little out of sequence this year is we're going to do an award right out of the gate because we have some family members here for this one. that won't be able to stick around through it. So I'm just going to jump right in on this one. Every year, as you all know, we give out an award called the Spirit of America Tribute. The purpose of this award is to recognize volunteerism within the town and those individuals that have gone above and beyond to make this town a better place. I think we all know volunteers are really the difference between a good town and a great town. And boy, this town's got them. I mean, it's really quite impressive. And look at this room. I mean, this is amazing on a gorgeous night. So thank you, everyone, because it's not exactly rainy and 40 out there right now. We'll actually be presenting the formal award and plaque at a later date because apparently the new town manager didn't know that he needed to get ahead of high school graduation awards before placing the order. So that'll come in a few weeks. Sorry about that. So this year's Spirit of America Award goes to someone who spent his entire life working behind the scenes to make this town better in general, but in particular, one section of Northeast Harbor. And I think for as long as any of us can remember, there's always been a network of trails leading through the woods between the town itself and Lower Hadlock. But also for most of our lives, that network of trails was kind of overgrown, not really very well marked. sometimes even barely traceable. But that was all before Cliff Olson got it in his mind to improve those trails. And he then spent years and years and years pulling together friends, connections from Acadia National Park, friends of Acadia, lands and garden preserves, Village Improvement Society, and really anyone he could convince to come out and help him on a Saturday with Chainsaw, turning it into the jewel that's out there today. I think if anyone hasn't explored that network, I really recommend it. What I wanted to say, and this is what this was for, is sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I know the lights are a little bright here. But behind me is a photo of a few years ago of Cliff and Kathy. And Cliff has his poles that he started to need towards the end there for balance. And so he couldn't carry the chainsaw, so Kathy carried the chainsaw for him. My favorite thing about this photo is also, you can pretty well tell, Cliff's giving her some kind of a suggestion that, you know, do this, and she's giving him the what are you talking about look, which I think we all know as we know these folks, like that sounds about right. But there they are. They're pushing on through thick and thin, and they're out there. getting those trails fixed because the trails needed fixing. And it's as simple as that, right? The work needed doing, so they got out there and they did it. And to me, that's the essence of this award. If this isn't what this award is all about, I don't know what is. So without further ado, I am honored to announce Cliff Olson as the recipient of this year's Spirit of America Award for the Town of Mount Desert. If Kathy wants to come up, she's welcome or not. But thank you all.

I guess I'd just like to say thank you to the community. We love living in Northeast Harbor. We've been here for over 60 years, and we're blessed to be part of the community. And I do want to put out a volunteer call the village improvement society trails part of the village improvement society could use some young volunteers to to help keep the trails in order because they're lovely and we are so fortunate in this community to have these trails where we can find solitude and peace and and just it's just it's a blessing that we have them and we should take care of them And I hope that we can, Jerry Summonsby is the president, and certainly you can contact me or Jerry or any other member of the Village Improvement Society if you'd like to be a volunteer. We would appreciate it. And thank you very much.

Thank you all.

All right. Now we're going to begin the annual town meeting. And I call it to order. I'm Jerry Miller. I'm your moderator. Won by a landslide. It was the biggest landslide ever. compared to last year. All right. First off, we have the election results from yesterday. Well, actually, there's a little paperwork before it. If it's all right with everybody, I'd like to use the main moderator's manual guide for town meetings rather than falling back on Robert's rules of order, which are too arcane for anybody to understand. So if that's OK, just by verbalist consent, can we do that?

Aye.

All right. Good, then that's what we'll do. And these are the election results from yesterday. You already know about my landslide victory. For Selectmen, John McCauley was elected with 85 votes. David McDonald was elected with 91 votes. Catherine Duby was elected with 94 votes for school board for a three-year term, and for a one-year term, No one was elected because there was nothing. There were just single white ins, so nobody won. The same is true for school district trustee. There were right ins, but there was no winner. It was a 12-way tie. There we go. If you won an election, you should come up and be sworn in. Wait, what? I have things to say before I say anything. You want this back? Yeah. All right. And she has some things to say.

First, I wanted to thank some people. I want to thank the Neighborhood House for hosting us. And I want to thank the community volunteers that put together and made your sandwiches. They're delicious tonight. And I'd also like to thank the Mount Desert staff and my deputies for their support and work in putting together this meeting. A lot of work goes into this. And yesterday, well, the whole meeting, yesterday and today. And then thank you to you guys, the residents, for your commitment to the town and engaging in the management of our town. This is very important. Thank you for coming. I have a few reminders. If you haven't received your green voting card, this is an actual voting card like a ballot at the polls. So if you haven't received it, please see Liddy or Evan at the check-in table and get it. You need to keep this card to vote when we do the hand counts and the written vote. So make sure you keep it. Don't throw it away. And we need to maintain a quorum of 50 people, so please stay through the end of the meeting so we can complete our business. And if you have to leave early, please turn your card into Lydia or Evan, okay? So would the newly elected select board members please come forward to take their oath? If you would raise your right hand and reach out your name.

I state your name.

I do swear I will support the Constitution of the United Do swear that I will faithfully discharge.

Do swear that I will faithfully discharge.

To the best of my abilities.

To the best of my abilities.

The duties incumbent upon me as selectman.

The duties incumbent upon me as selectman. For the town of Mount Desert. The town of Mount Desert. For a three-year term beginning May 5th, 2026. For either term beginning May 5th, 2026.

And is Catherine Duby present?

She is. And now can you balance on one?

I do swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. I do swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. And this state, so long as I can continue.

And this state, so long as I can continue. I do swear that I will take this charge. I do swear that I will take this charge. To the best of my ability, the duties incumbent on me as a member of the Mount Desert for a three year term.

All right. From time to time as we go through the evening, there are a few of the Warren articles that are somewhat verbose. And when we get to those, I'll ask for permission to skip some of the long terms of the language. And you're welcome to require that I read it aloud. You're welcome to agree to me not reading aloud. But just so you know ahead of time, this one isn't very long. Article three. to see if the non-voters will be allowed when recognized to speak during the 2026 annual town meeting. Any discussion of Article 3? Hearing none, all those in favor? Opposed? I think the ayes have that one. Article 4. Article 4. Shall an ordinance dated May 5, 2026 and entitled the Town of Mount Desert Alewife Ordinance be enacted? The ordinance reads in its entirety, regulations for the taking of alewives and blueback herring shall be as follows. For the year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, there shall be no taking of alewives and blueback herring in the Town of Mount Desert.

The Warren Committee recommends passage of Article 4.

Second. Okay. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Ayes have it. Article 4 passes. Article 5, shall an ordinance dated May 5th, 2026 and entitled Amendments to the Town of Mount Desert Harbor Ordinance be enacted as set forth below? Let's just have one. Newer expanded operators 8.8.8.8.9. On or before September 30th of any year, the Select Board will advertise for proposals to be submitted for consideration by potential new passenger vessel operators as well as proposed additional vessels or proposed higher passenger density capacity replacement vessels by presently approved operators to fill any and all vacancies which have been created at the Northeast Harbor Marina. Proposals must meet all criteria outlined in this ordinance Submitted on the application for approval to operate from the Northeast Harbor Marina, selection of new operators, additional vessels, or higher capacity vessels, replacement vessels, will be on a space-available basis and will be determined by a lottery system. The Town of Mount Desert-based businesses will receive priority in the lottery while allowing for an overall distribution of 75% of Mount Desert-based businesses and 25% businesses based outside of the Town of Mount Desert. New operator proposals should be submitted to the Harbor Master between February 1st and February 28th for entry into the lottery. The lottery will be held during the Harbor Committee meeting in March. Operators may only submit one proposal for a permit and may only hold one permit at a time. Applications from the Town of Mount Desert-based businesses will be drawn first. If all Mount Desert-based businesses have aborted or reached the overall distribution limit, the remaining permits will be drawn from the general pool of applicants. ALL NEW OR EXPANDED OPERATORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS IN THIS ORDINANCE. ANY DISCUSSION OF ARTICLE 5? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ARTICLE 5? ARTICLE 5 PASSES. ARTICLE 6, SHALL AN ORDINANCE DATED MAY 5, 2026 AND ENTITLED TOWN OF MOUNTAINS ROAD STANDARD ORDINANCE BE ENACTED as set forth in Appendix A, page 26. And you can read the appendix all by yourselves.

Okay, any discussion?

All those in favor of Article 6? Article 7. Alan, you should just read the warrant committee's recommendations. I know, but you're the warrant committee tonight. Same thing. This is what I do is slap people down. You're the warrant committee tonight. Yep. Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. I can speak. I was chastising him. Now I'm done, so I'll speak loud again. No. All right, we're going to move on to Article 7. Shall an ordinance dated May 5th, 2026 entitled amendments to the town of Mount Desert land use zoning ordinance regarding road standards amend LUSO section 6.B.11 as detailed below be enacted. You want me to read it all? Does anybody want me to read it all? Okay. Article 6, Article 7, excuse me.

The Warren Committee recommends passage of Article 7.

Any discussion of Article 7? Go ahead. Probably.

I just had a question about why the subsection three part was deleted. And I'm actually curious as to why that subsection three was in there in the first place. It would seem to me that deleting it would create less flexibility for property owners and not more. So I just wonder if somebody could give the background and then the rationale for why we're deleting this.

It's all yours. You can use this. Go ahead. Hi, I'm Matt Williams with the Musson Group, who helped work on these ordinance updates. sorry i'm matt williams with the muslin group who helped worked on these ordinance updates for the town so there's a pretty long history it seems like i'm pretty new this is my first year working with the group of the town updating their road standards within both the the 6B11 section trying to create ways to make it easier or more flexible for lot owners to build roads or driveways without having to go through the planning board review, which as it was previous to the road standards ordinance here, the only road standards that existed were in the subdivision ordinance. So every road had to go through a planning board review because the standards were under a planning board jurisdiction. So now the new road standards ordinance breaks that out so that the code office and staff can review certain roads without having to go through planning boards that expands the flexibility there. Section three seemed, you know, as my understanding in the history of that was to solve like a very specific problem. But again, it's tied into the subdivision ordinance standards, but those are no longer where the road standards are gonna be kept. They're in the new road standards ordinance. And so section three no longer would have been applicable because it's the standards that new roads and driveways would follow unless they're part of a subdivision will go through the road standards ordinance and not the subdivision ordinance. yeah the new ordinance only governs new or it governs new roads and driveways or if you're extending or modifying existing road or driveway but those yeah so it's it's if you're extending or modifying the road at all i think driveways are still only covered by the luo

to take it out of the subdivision planning and put it in a separate ordinance.

Well, the whole point was to remove the subdivision portion of it because the standards mentioned here. Sorry, the whole point was to remove the reference to the subdivision ordinance. And again, like the history of getting to the Section 3 seemed kind of convoluted, so we removed that just because the new ordinance was being created in its place. Let me just look at the language of the new ordinance. Like all roads so I have to keep going back to the planning board for review Oh If you don't just if you vote down this part if you vote down this part then this section 2 will only reference the subdivision ordinance and so There'll be a conflict between the new ordinance that just got passed and then this section of the Luzo that still references the subdivision ordinance and are you gonna give a response for him uh no you know okay remove that uh she was first and then you rick i saw gail

One of the factors that we're trying to deal with here is, with this ordinance, is safety. Is fire and ambulance and police safety. And we've run into some real issues about that. in specific cases, and that's always something that needs to be counterbalanced in the community against something that may have been, may or may, speculatively, may have been grandfathered in at some point in the past. The bottom line for us was to try to make sure that the road surfaces, in as far as we could make them, would continue to come to the standards that are gonna make it safe and efficient for emergency vehicles to get into the lots.

Go ahead, Rick.

Is it my understanding that if we do not vote positive for this amendment, that item three will be maintained in the ordinance?

Yes, if you vote down Article 7, it will all stay right where they are.

I think I could just add to what Gail said, because I did kind of forget. There was a project that came before the planning board earlier this year where it was an older road. And so there was two different types of review. There was the town's review, then there was also the fire safety review, which follows NFPA standards. And so the town had this provision built into here that had the grandfathering effect, but NFPA and fire safety review doesn't have a grandfathering effect. So the road still had to be amended to come into those safety standards anyway. And so the grandfathering portion really didn't have too much of an effect on the project.

Is that because of a town rule or a state mandate?

A state adopted standards.

Good, Sam. Any other discussion? All right, we'll take it to a vote. All those in favor of Article 7, say aye. All those opposed? I think the ayes have it. Do you guys argue with that? Article 7 passes. Article 8, shall an ordinance dated May 5th, 2026 and entitled amendments to the reorganization of the town of Mount Desert Zoning Board of Appeals ordinance be amended as set forth below in section 4.a.1 regarding administrative appeals. See appendix B for the reorganization of the town Mount Desert Zoning Board of Appeals in its entirety. And then the explanation is that the article is intended to amend the appeals process to comply with state law. Any discussion of Article 8? Hearing none, all those in favor of Article 8? Opposed? Article 8 passes. Article 9. So an ordinance dated May 5th, 2026 and entitled amendments to the town of Mount Desert land use zoning ordinance regarding appeals and enforcement provisions be enacted as set forth below. The article is intended to amend the appeals process and enforcement provision to comply with state law. Do you want me to read the appeal section? It's only a paragraph. The decision of the Planning Board may be appealed to the Board of Appeals within 30 days of notice of the Planning Board's final written decision. For this purpose, an applicant shall be deemed to have received notice three days after mailing of the final written decision of the Planning Board to the applicant. Other interested parties shall be deemed to have received notice three days after a copy of the final written decision of the Planning Board. has been filed as a public record in the town's clerk's office. The Board of Appeals has authority to hear and decide administrative appeals on an appellate basis where it is alleged by an aggrieved party that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by or failure to act by the Planning Board.

Board Committee recommends passage of Article 9. Second.

Any discussion of Article 9? All those in favor of Article 9? Aye. I think the nays. The ayes have it. We'll go to Article 10. Shall an ordinance dated May 5th, 2026, an entitled town of Mount Desert subdivision ordinance be adopted as set forth in Appendix C, page 33, and shall the existing subdivision ordinance, last amended May 7th, 2024, be repealed and replaced by the ordinance dated May 5th, 2026? The new ordinance is on file with the town clerk. THE ARTICLE REPEALS THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE ENACTED IN MARCH 3, 1990 AND AMENDED THROUGH MAY 7, 2024 AND REPLACES IT WITH THE NEW SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ARTICLE 10 PASSES. ARTICLE 11. Shall ordinance amendments dated May 5th, 2026 and entitled amendments to the land use zoning ordinance regarding to match the term attainable housing, regarding to match, that's what it says, the term attainable housing, the definitions and process in the new subdivision be enacted as set forth in appendix D. This article is intended to assure that LUSO uses the same terminology and process when referencing the new subdivision ordinance. any discussion hearing none all those in favor all those opposed article 11 passes article 12 shall norton stated may 5th 2026 and entitled amendments to the towns of mount desert land use ordinance regarding regular housekeeping as set forth in appendix e be enacted This article is intended to rectify clerical errors and improve clarity within the ordinance.

Board committee recommends passage of Article 12. Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? No. Article 12 passes. Article 13, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to accept conditional gifts, MRS 30 slash A, Number 5654, unconditional guests, MRS 30-A-5655. Equipments, proceeds from sale of firements or fund on behalf of the municipal fire department. It is understood that any funds received will be placed in the fire equipment reserved fund.

The board committee recommends passage of Article 13. Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor of passage of Article 13? Aye. All those opposed? Article 13 passes. Article 14, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to accept and expend on behalf of the town additional state, federal, and other funds, including conditional and unconditional gifts of money received during the fiscal year 2026-27 for town purposes, provided that such additional funds do not require expenditure of local funds not previously appropriated.

Board Committee recommends passage of Article 14. Second.

Any discussion of Article 14? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Article 14 passes. Leases, agreements, easements, and deeds. Article 15, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to grant an extension to April 30th, 2027 of the deadline of April 30th, 2026, which was imposed in Warren Article 23 adopted in the May Six, 2025 annual town meeting requiring the Echo Woods Road on or before said deadline to deliver their deed to the town duly executed and in proper form for recording, conveying, and simple fee without condition except in a reservations, the full title of the land underlying the roads being a strip of land 50 feet in width or greater as laid out in the said subdivision.

Board Committee recommends passage of Article 15. Second.

Any discussion of Article 15? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 15 passes. Article 16, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to grant the transfer of land to Island Housing Trust by good and sufficient quit claim deed without covenants comprised of a portion of land owned by the town that is Farnam's way in an amount sufficient to provide the remaining portion of mapped lot 011-048-001-001 and a portion of land owned by the town that is Sydney's Way in an amount sufficient to provide the remaining portion of map lot 010-048-001-009 as described in the amendment to the Ripples Hill subdivision approval by the town of Mount Desert Planning Board on January 8, 2025. and further to authorize the select board to designate or its designee to execute any and all contracts and documents and do any and all things necessary or convenient to accomplish the transfer.

The board committee recommends passage of Article 16. Second.

Any discussion of Article 16? All those in favor?

Aye. All opposed?

To public utilities within a town way and further to authorize the select board or its designee to execute any and all Documents and do any and all things necessary or convenient to accomplish the granting of such easements.

Board Committee recommends passage of Article 17. Second.

Any discussion of Article 17? Authorize the select board to grant utility crossing rights on behalf of the town for the installation, maintenance, or removal of utility services as defined in Maine Revised Statutes Title III, 458-2, Sub B, but not including any such utility services being connected to public utilities within a town way, and further to authorize the select boards or its designee to execute any and all documents and do any and all things necessary or convenient to accomplish the granting of such utility crossing rights.

Board Committee recommends passage of Article 18. Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor of Article 18? All those opposed? Article 18 passes. Article 19. To see if the town of the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to lease a portion of the so-called visitor center at the Northeast Harbor Marina to the ticket booth operators for a term of one year beginning July 1, 2026 under such terms and conditions as the select board's in its sole discretion deems to be in the best interests of the town.

Board of Committee recommends the passage of Article 19. Second.

Any discussion of Article 19? All those in favor?

Aye.

All those opposed? Article 19 passes. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to lease a portion of the so-called visitor center at the Northeast Harbor Marina to the Mount Desert Chamber of Commerce for a term of one year beginning July 1, 2026, under such terms and conditions as a select board in its sole discretion deems to be in the best interest of the town.

The board committee recommends the passage of Article 20. Second.

Any discussion of Article 20? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 20 passes. Article 21. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will authorize the select board to negotiate and enter into an agreement with the Neighborhood House Club, Inc. for management and maintenance of the municipal swimming pool for a term of one year beginning July 1, 2026 under such terms and conditions as the select board in its sole discretion deems to be in the best interest of the town.

Board Committee recommends passage of Article 21. Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 21 passes. Article 22, should the town of Mount Desert be authorized to issue general obligation bonds or notes of the town in a principal amount not to exceed $1 million to pay for the construction of a sand and salt shed and further to authorize the select board or its designees to execute any and all contracts and documents and do any and all things necessary or convenient to issue the bonds or notes of the town which shall be callable and to accomplish the foregoing project. And beneath is a statement of the total indebtedment of the town. and what it would cost for the bond.

The board committee recommends passage of Article 22.

Second.

Any discussion of Article 22? Question. Go ahead.

Is this for a new shed or replacement of an existing shed?

It's a brand new shed.

We currently have a small sand or salt shed on the campus at Sargent Drive where the highway garage is, and we're replacing that salt shed with a salt sand shed storage facility. So it'll be a new, larger, and we'll accommodate both materials.

Thank you. Any further discussion, other questions? Yep, go ahead. If you tell us who you are when you're talking, please. I knew that.

That's our current estimate for what we expect that we're going to spend for the sand and salt facility, but we'll do our best to put a facility there that economizes money for the town.

And are we required to do that? I mean, we've never covered the sand before. Is that a change that now we need to do that? I mean, the sand usage is the last five to ten years keeps going down and down and down. The salt usage goes up. I mean, can we just do away with the sand?

conceptualized right now and we will be doing more of a salt priority it does have to be stored indoors as you know we do have a salt sand mix in that pile that's on the outside and we'll be storing less materials there won't be as large of a sand pile sitting there it is going to be a smaller overall footprint relative to what's there is what we're anticipating I think that That's all variable and up to what we find when we talk to our engineer and what we have for site ability. When you store in a building like that, the height of the walls makes a big difference on how big of the footprint there is. So if you can go up a little higher, 8 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, the higher you go, the higher you can stack the material inside, the less land surface you need to take up with the building. That's to be determined.

Seems like growth. We're looking to put a lot of money towards this before we really have an end goal in sight as far as details. Seems like a lot of money in there.

We looked through, there's actually a program through the state DOT that works on salt sand buildings, and we did some estimation on what we think that a typical salt sand building would take for construction purposes, what it would take for design, by looking at a lot of recent activity that's been going on, because they collect and aggregate all the data from various locations and towns across the state where these have been built. So we did our best estimate of trying to come up with what we think the anticipated costs will be. But the design process is going to be necessary. Capacity we have to fit within that site, so it takes a little bit more. We didn't put any design money towards it anytime recently. That could be another way to handle it is to go through the design process and then come with a bid. But for this one, we wanted to expedite this and get this taken care of. We think we have a solid number for our anticipated costs, and we should be able to do it with this bonded amount.

Thank you. First of all, it just appears to us it's like you're getting a blackjack for up to a million dollars.

And I know you, and I know you have the town's best interests. I understand.

I will jump in. One other thing that's occurred since we even put this on the warrant, we did have our insurance adjuster come out and look at the building and inform us we've got to replace that building. So one way or the other, we are going to need to do something right away because we've let it go a few too many years before taking this move. So one way or the other, we are going to need to do something with that building right away.

Any other questions? All right, hearing no more questions, we'll call 22 to vote. All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Would you agree that the ayes have it? All right, Article 22 passes. Article 23. see if the town if the inhabitants of the town of mount dessert will vote to reallocate and appropriate a total amount of 1 million 839 dollars 757 dollars and 70 cents of unspent proceeds from general obligation bonds of the town that were authorized in the annual town meeting and issued from 2018 through 2024 for various capital projects as set forth at the table below to the c street pump station and replacement of a sanitary sewer line on jordan bond road and other capital projects of the town. Such projects and amounts to be approved by order of the select but in further to authorize the select board or its designee to asinate any and all contracts and documents and do any and all things necessary or convenient to accomplish the projects authorized by this article or to be authorized by the select board with further terms and conditions to be determined by the select boards. And down below are the four bonds that they're asking you to switch over. The projects outlined above are all complete. Projects that were funded with bond proceeds issued in 2023 and 2024 are still ongoing, and any unspent proceeds may be reallocated at a later date.

The board committee recommends passage of Article 23. Second.

Discussion? Go ahead, Lee.

Who are you?

Thank you.

we we don't have a budget for that one as of yet the design is complete and we went out to bid we failed to get any bids on that one it's going out to be rebid a second time by changing the project slightly to make it more appealing to construction companies to come in and do the work that bid should be let relatively soon i i have only just the coarsest of estimates that We should be okay with the amount of money that we have in these bonds, but I don't have a very close number. I would if we'd have gotten bids on the last go-around.

And then the second part of that is if you do get bids, when do you think that that project is going to actually become valid?

Two years? A year? What do you think?

Given the amount of work that contractors have right now, and I don't expect it to be this fall, I'm hopeful that it would be in the spring. So we'd be looking at spring of 2027. We'd want to avoid the primary tourist season, so potentially fall of 27 would be the... It will go to the select board for authorization, which would have happened after this as well had we gotten bids the first time around. Those bids will always go to the select board for approval, so we'll present them with whatever bids that we get, and approval will happen there.

Second. Other questions? All those in favor of Article 23 as written? Aye. All those opposed? Article 23 passes. Article 24. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to approve July 1 of each year is the date on which all taxes shall be due and payable, providing that all unpaid taxes on September 1 of each year shall be charged an interest of an annual rate of 7% per year. Tax club members are exempt within the terms and conditions of the town's tax club agreement.

Board of Committee recommends passage of Article 24. Second.

Discussion of Article 24? All those in favor? All those opposed? Article 24 passes. Article 25. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the tax collector to enter into a standard tax club agreement with taxpayers whereby, one, the taxpayer agrees to pay specified monthly payments to the town based on the taxpayer's estimated and actual tax obligation for current year property taxes, real estate and or personal. the town agrees to waive interest on timely payments. Three, the town authorizes the tax collector to accept payment of taxes prior to commitment of taxes. Four, the agreement automatically terminates if two consecutive payments are missed and the taxpayer thereupon becomes subject to the same due date and interest rate as other non-participating taxpayers. Five, only taxpayers who are paid in full on their property tax applications obligations may participate. And six, interested taxpayers shall apply annually for participation by the date shown on the application date and the application format to be determined by the tax collector.

Board Committee recommends passage of Article 25. Second.

Any discussion of Article 25? All those in favor of Article 25? Aye. Article 26. to see if the town will vote to authorize the tax collector to accept prepayment of property taxes not yet committed, not to exceed the estimated amount to be committed in the subsequent year with no interest to be paid on same.

Board Committee recommends the passage of Article 26. Second.

Any discussion of Article 26? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 26 passes. Article 27. to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to set the interest rate to be paid by the town for abated taxes that have been paid at the rate of 7% per year.

Warmth Committee recommends passage of Article 27. Second.

Any discussion of Article 27? All those in favor?

Aye.

All those opposed? Article 27 passes. Article 28, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize expenditures to pay any tax abatements granted by the assessor, board of assessment review, or select board together with any interest due thereon from the town during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 in an aggregate amount not to exceed the property tax commitment overlay.

Board committee recommends passage of Article 28. Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? Article 28 passes. Article 29, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to dispose by public bid of town-owned property other than real property with a value of $10,000 or less under such terms and conditions as it deems advisable.

Warren Committee recommends passage of Article 29. Second.

Any discussion of Article 29? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Article 29 passes. Article 30. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to sell at public auction or by advertised sealed bid and to convey titles obtained under tax deeds and other deeds and under deeds of conveyance to the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert any land and or buildings including trailers in lieu of payment of taxes except that the selectmen have the power to authorize redemption. Municipal officers shall use special sale procedures required by 636 MRS 943-C for qualifying homestead property if they choose to sell it to anyone other than the former owners. Any discussion of Article 30? All those in favor? Opposed? Article 30 passes. Article 31. to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to contract for services in amounts not to exceed appropriation for the same under such terms and conditions as it deems advisable.

More committee recommends passage of Article 31. Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor?

Aye.

Article 31 passes. Now we're moving into revenues for a while. We have a couple, at the end though, the hand votes and the written votes. Article 60 or so? Yeah. All right. If anybody decides we need a break, let me know. Otherwise, I'm just going to keep rolling on through. Article 32. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to budget $600,000 from an undesignated fund balance account 100-38300 to reduce the 2026-2027 tax commitment. Any questions about Article 32? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 32 passes. Article 33, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to authorize the select board to transfer up to $200,000 from the capital gains reserve account 400-24202 to reduce the 2026-2027 tax commitment. Board Committee recommends passage of Article 33 Any discussion of Article 33? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 33 passes. Article 34, to see what sum the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and or appropriate as revenue through excise taxes, service fees, and miscellaneous sources for the 2026-2027 town budget. The select board is recommending a figure of $2,062,325. Any discussion of Article 34? All those in favor? All those opposed? Article 34 passes. Article 35. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount dessert will vote to ratify the overdraft that occurred in public safety fire department hydrants and emergency management for the year ending June 20, June 30, 2025 in the amount of $163,260 expended versus $2,501,492 budgeted. The overdraft was charged to the undesignated fund balance. Said department overage was primarily attributable to overtime wages and associated benefits paid to full-time firefighters covering the shifts due to staffing shortage. The department was short-staffed for most of the fiscal year as we tried to fill the last open firefighter paramedic position, which went unfilled for most of the year.

The War Committee recommends $163,260

Any discussion of Article 35? Hearing none, all those in favor of Article 35? Opposed? Article 35 passes. Article 36, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to ratify the overdraft that occurred in streetlights for the year ending June 30th, 2025 in the amount of $17,476, $29,726 was expended versus $12,250 budgeted. The overdraft was charged to the undesignated fund balance. Said departmental overage was primarily attributable to a one-time charge for streetlight repairs.

Board Committee recommends $17,476.

Second.

Any discussion of Article 36? Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

All those opposed? Article 36 passes. Article 37, to see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to ratify the overdraft that occurred in General Assistance for the year ending June 30th, 2025 in the amount of $4,459. $9,459 was expended versus $5,000 budgeted. The overdraft was charged to the undesignated fund balance. Said department overage was primarily attributable to more requests being received than anticipated.

The work committee recommends $4,459. Second.

Any discussion of Article 37? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 37 passes. Article 38. To see what some of the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 200 through 211, General Government, Governing Bodies, Select Board, Municipal Management, Town Clerk, Registrar, Elections, Planning Board, Finance, Treasurer, Tax Collector, Assessment, Code Enforcement, Unallocated Funds, Human Resources, Technology, and Contracted Municipal and Community Oriented Services for the 2026-2027 Town budget, and the select board is recommending a figure of $2,343,614. Board committee also recommends $2,343,614. Second. Any discussion of Article 38?

Knitter's hands moving look like people raising their hands.

Go ahead.

Yep.

I'll have to pull together. It's a bunch of different departments. It should be a pretty small, small increase overall, but I could get back to you on what that would do. It would have to be a bunch of, because it's a bunch of different departments, it might take me a few minutes to pull together.

That it's gone up? Did anybody have last year's warrant with them? Do you?

Give us a second.

Give us a second, we'll find out. I left my last year's warrant on my desk.

Okay, we're almost there.

Last year it was... Last year it was $2,299,378. It actually got amended to that. It got amended to $2,300,078. Yeah, pretty much exactly $40,000. Thank you for having that. Any other discussion of Article 38? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 38 passes. Article 39. To see what some of the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 300 general assistance support for the 2026-2027 town budget. The select board is recommending $5,000.

Board committee recommends $5,000. Second.

Any discussion? And who are you, ma'am? I can't hear you, sweetie.

There was a demand. Yeah.

Well, I can take that one. This tends to be a highly variable number. It really, truly depends on how many people who qualify for general assistance come through the office. I don't have the number exactly in my head, but at this moment in time, we are what? seven weeks out from the end of the year, and we haven't crossed that budget number yet. That's not to say that somebody couldn't come in. But if we look over the three to four year trend of this number, that 5,000 tends to be about the average. Yes, last year was significantly more. But the reality is because it's a relatively small number relative to this town, it doesn't take much to bounce it around. So there's been years in the not too distant past where it was a zero. And yes, last year was a high of 10,000. But this is one of those numbers that's sort of like, say, road salt. It's a really difficult one to predict year to year. So we try to go on the average.

Any other questions? Okay all those in favor of passing article 39 is written all those opposed Article 39 passes Article 40 to see what's on the inhabitants of the town of Mount dessert will vote to raise an appropriate for Department 350 rural wastewater support for the 2026 2027 town budget And the select board is recommending $237,287. More committee recommends $237,287. Second. Any discussion of Article 40?

All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 40 passes. Article 41.

To see what some of the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for a department 406 streetlights for the 2026-2077 town budget. The select board recommends a figure of $23,750. The board committee recommends $43,750.

Second.

Any discussion? All those in favor, Article 41 is written.

Opposed?

Article 41 passes. Article 42, to see what's on the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert, we'll vote to raise and appropriate for Department 401, 405, 407, and 408 Public Safety, Police, and Communications Dispatch for the 2026-2027 town budget. The police's section is $1,129,658. Shellfish is $3,403. Communications is $542,000. $355, animal control is $4,480, and the select board recommends a figure of $1,679,896. Board committee recommends $1,679,896. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Article 42 passes. Article 43, to see what some of the inhabitants of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 403, 404, and 409, public safety, fire department, hydrants, and emergency management for the 2026-2027 town budget. The fire portion is $2,977,540. Hydrants are $281,706. Emergency management is at $4,500. And the select board recommends a figure of $3,263,746. Board committee recommends $3,263,746. Second. Any discussion? all those in favor of article forty three opposed upside

The sum total for all of those last year was $3,001,779 as opposed to the 3.2. So it is still a significant increase, but it's not $700,000. Okay, so what we're dealing with is multiple years here the overage we're going back two years Then you've got the current year and then you've got the present year budget if that makes sense Right because the overage you're thinking about it. That's from I from basically over a year ago, right? This is coming out of the audit that we received a ways back. 24. yeah 24-25 then 25 26 is what we're just finishing up so yeah i'm sorry i got that wrong after all these years you'd think i'd get this but i don't so yeah the overage is 24 25 the budget year that we're just finishing up now is 25 26 and what we're voting on right now is 26 27. so there's sort of three different budget years in play which is why that gets a little much On that front, yes. So there was a large jump from 2425 to 2526. Further questions?

Hearing none, all those in favor? All those opposed? Article 43 passes. Article 44, to see what sum the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 501, 515, 520, and 525, public works, roads, waste management, buildings and grounds, parks and cemeteries, and 530, environmental sustainability for the 2026-2027 town budget. The roads portion is $2,439,507. Parks and cemeteries is $36,750. Environmental sustainability is $22,000. Buildings and grounds is $343,599. And waste management is $787,353. And the selectmen recommend a figure of $3,629,209. Board committee recommends $3,629,509. Any discussion of Article 44? Yep. And who are you? Thank you. That's from the Sustainability Committee. So you want to know what we get? Nobody else can hear you. $22,000 for the states. Where does that money go? That's your question. Does anybody want to take the sustainability? He's just asking how much, what the $22,000 for the Sustainability Committee, where does it go?

That's the question.

And his name was Peter Thompson. Anybody want to take that?

Yeah, the Sustainability Committee does a few things primarily within the Public Works Department, but what we're doing with some of that money is some consulting services related to the comprehensive plan that we're working on. So we're incorporating some work that was done for a vulnerability assessment into the comprehensive plan. Other things related to the EV chargers that we have. So there's maintenance agreements for the EV chargers and various work that gets done on those. Those are the two primary ones within.

Okay.

Any further questions? All those in favor of Article 44? All those opposed? Article 44 passes. Article 45, to see what some of the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 505 and 506, sewers, wastewater treatment for the 2026 2027 town budget. Sewer capital is asking zero. Sewer operations is $936,212. Wastewater treatment, Northeast Harbor Plant is $209,850. Soamesville Plant is $82,500. The Seal Harbor Plant is $154,000. The Otter Creek Pump Station is $40,000. The Select Board recommends a figure of $1,422,000.

$562 Any discussion of article 45 Hearing none all those in favor article 45 all those opposed aye

Article 45 passes. Article 46, to see what some of the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 605, recreation, public pools, utility and maintenance for the 2026-2027 town budget. And the select board recommends a figure of $10,000. Board committee recommends $10,000. Second. Any discussion of Article 46? Hearing none, all those in favor? All those opposed? Article 46 passes. Article 47. To see what sum the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 701, Economic Community Development for the 2026-2027 Town Budget. The Select Board recommends a figure of $10,000.

The Warren Committee also recommends $10,000. Second.

Any discussion of Article 47? All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 47 passes. Article 48, to see what sum the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 801 debt service for the 2026-2027 town budget. And the select board recommends $2,267,308. Moore committee recommends $2,267,308. Any discussion of Article 48? What's the definition of debt service? And who are you? Okay.

So the term debt service applies to the payments that have to get made any year on the outstanding debt. So it's the the overall name given to each of the annual payments given. It's kind of a funny name for it but it's basically saying principal and interest payments on outstanding bond issuances. Was that the question basically.

Any other questions. All those in favor of Article 48? Opposed? Article 48 passes. Article 49. To see what sum the inhabitants of the Town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 851, Village Improvement Societies and Public Social Service Agencies for the 2026-2027 Town Budget. Village Improvement Societies come out at $66,000. Public and social service agencies come in at a figure of $110,219. And the Select Board recommends a figure of $176,219. Board Committee also recommends $176,219. Second. Any questions on Article 49? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Article 50. To see what sum the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to raise and appropriate for Department 991 Capital Improvement Plan transfers for the 2026-2027 town budget. The Select Board recommends a figure of $1,332,838. Board Committee also recommends $1,332,000.

Any questions?

Sure, it's a mix of a whole lot of different stuff, so it's a pretty...

Sorry, I'll get the hang of this. So what that is, is that is the sum total of what our sort of master spreadsheet that governs how much we need to set aside for capital improvements each year. allocates out. So it's really it's a mix of every department's capital improvements needs and it calculates how much we need to set aside every year and I'll go sort of the most basic level and sort of work on it from there. Say for example we have a plow truck that needs to get replaced every my math is freezing up on me so i'm going to use bad numbers here that costs 200 000 and needs to get replaced every 10 years it's not that fast but so that would basically calculate out on a very simple math that we need to set aside 20 000 every year to move towards that truck there's extra hitches to it it also factors in the fact that there's inflation coming in so rising costs that it needs to account for. And then it also accounts for, say we're eight years out and we've got $40,000 set aside, great, another 20,000, but say for some reason we're running a little behind, it allocates out more money. The whole discussion that we have at Warrant Committee, it's a whole long night that makes everyone's head hurt a little bit, but it does do a great job of making sure that the town stays on top of its capital improvements and needs and keeps putting aside enough money every year for really a mix of everything, if that helps at all. It's quite a lot going on with it.

It does, but my question is related to Article, I think it was,

Correct what this does is this attempts to keep us from having to bond as much as we can so things like a Plow truck we wouldn't have to do a bond issuance for because we've been planning for that all along Yeah, oh it's at the back of this document it's it's not the easiest thing in the world to read sorry I

The list of all the CIP items is page 151. It's also available online, but it's a very complicated document to watch. Oh yeah, guaranteed to put you right out. Any other questions? All those in favor? Opposed? Article 50 passes. Article 51. To see if the inhabitants of the town of Mount Desert will vote to ratify the select board's approval of the marina proprietary fund budget. And the revenues from there is $1,064,314, and the expense is $1,064,314. The select board recommends ratification of this article. The board committee makes no recommendations. What? All those in favor? Or excuse me, we should discuss it for a while. Any discussion? All those in favor of Article 51? Opposed? Article 51 passes. All right, Article 52. So the town of Mount Desert be authorized to appropriate an amount not to exceed $412,610 from the harbor's Marina Enterprise Fund balance, unrestricted net position. Account number 600-38300 to finance survey and engineering services for the reconstruction of the Northeast Harbor Municipal Wharf and further authorize the municipal officers to execute any and all contracts and documents and do any and all things necessary or convenient to procure engineering design services for the solicitation of contractor pricing for the wharf's reconstruction. The wharf was constructed in the mid-1950s. Structural analysis performed in 2020 confirmed the design lifespan of the wharf has been exceeded. The funds will be used to finance the production of design plan specifications, bid documents, and bid advertisement for the Wharf reconstruction, in addition to providing engineering services for local, state, and federal permitting for the Wharf reconstruction. See the map below showing the location of the proposed project location. The select board is recommending passage of Article 42. The Wharf committee recommends passage.

Second.

Any discussion? Yes, ma'am? And who are you? Thank you. Yeah, you can do that or I can just paraphrase it. That's okay.

I just want to ask if we have an opportunity to approve the plans, et cetera, that may come out of this before they are enacted or used.

I'm going to jump here just because it's a long haul for the mic down to John. But what is starting up here is to do the engineering work, which will then result in the marina coming before the select board to approve the eventual spending package for this at that point in time. But this is for us to get the initial plans in there. And I think I need to hand this on to John, because I think I might have missed something there.

OK. OK. Other questions? All right. Hearing none, all those in favor of Article 52? Aye. All those opposed? Article 52 passes. All right. We're into the elementary school. And this is after the first bit, there's some hand counting and written ballots. Up until Article 63, you're raising appropriations. And then the second section is where we actually, we're authorizing the money and then we're expending the money. To see what's on the school board, this is 53, will be authorized to expend for regular instruction for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. The school board recommends a figure of $2,559,506. Board Committee also recommends $2,559,506. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor of Article 53? Aye. We probably only have 15 or 20 minutes left if you're getting anxious about sneaking off. Article 54, to see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for special education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. The 2025-26 amount was $974,401. The school board recommends a figure of $889,433. Any discussion of article 54 All those in favor all those opposed Article 54 passes article 55 to see what some the school board will be authorized to expend for career and technical education For the fiscal year beginning July 1 2026 and ending June 30th 2027 The 2025-2026 amount was zero, and the school board recommends a figure of zero. Any discussion? All those in favor of Article 55? Opposed? Article 55? Article 55 passes. Article 56. To see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for other instruction for the fiscal year being July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. The school board recommends a figure of $133,710. Board Committee also recommends $133,710. Second. Any discussion of Article 56? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 56 passes. Article 57, to see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for student and staff support for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. The school board recommends a figure of $729,552. Board committee also recommends $729,552. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor of Article 57 is written. Aye. Opposed? Article 57 passes. Article 58, to see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for system administration for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. The school board recommends a figure of $156,318. Warren Kennedy also recommends $156,318. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Article 58 passes. Article 59. To see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for school administration for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. The school board recommends $396,909.

The warm committee also recommends $396,909. Second.

Any discussion of Article 60? Oh, no. Article 59. Excuse me. I don't want to get ahead of myself. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Article 59 passes. Article 60. To see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for transportation and buses, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. 2025-26 amount was $286,618. The school board recommends a figure of $309,813. Board Committee also recommends $309,813. Second. Any discussion of Article 60? All those in favor? All those opposed? Article 60 passes. Article 61, to see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for facilities maintenance for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. The previous year amount was $695,228. The school board is recommending a figure of $616,213. Board committee also recommends Any discussion? All those in favor of Article 61? Opposed? Article 61 passes. Article 62, to see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for debt service and other commitments for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. The 25-26 amount was zero. The school board is recommending a figure of $609,318. Board Committee also recommends $609,318.

Second.

Discussion? Anybody want to answer it? It's just that there were no payments previously. It's just starting this year. Any other questions? All those in favor of Article 62? Opposed? Article 62 passes. Article 63, to see what sum the school board will be authorized to expend for all other expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. The 2025-26 amount was $80,000. The school board is recommending a figure of $95,000. Board Committee also recommends $95,000. Second. Any discussion of Article 63? Article 63 passes. Would we like to vote? All those in favor? I already marked your vote down, yep. All those opposed? I think Article 63 passes twice that way. Yeah, Articles 53 through 63 authorize a total budget of $6,495,722. The previous year's budget was $5,843,006. All right, now we're into the hand count, up and down, that kind of thing. Article 64. This is when your little blue cards come in helpful. Your green cards, excuse me. Well, I could be color blind. All right, all you have to do is hold your card up and people will count them. Article 64, to see what some of the voters of the town of Mount Desert will appropriate for the total cost of funding publication Public education from kindergarten to grade 12, as described in the Essential Program and Services Funding Act, which recommends a figure of $2,420,579, and to see what sum the voters of town of Mount Desert will raise as the town's contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12, as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act. in accordance with the Maine Revised Statute Title 20-A, Section 15688 for the period July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. The school board recommends a figure of $2,056,953. Board Committee also recommends $2,056,953. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none, this is a hand count, so you have to raise your little green cards. All those in favor? All those opposed All right article 64 passes with 89 votes Hand count is another one article 65 we get to do this again. You can use your other hand if you need exercise I To see what some of the voters of the town of Mount Desert will raise and appropriate for the annual payments on debt service previously approved by the legislative body for non-state funded school construction projects, non-state funded portions of school construction projects, and minor capital projects in addition to the funds appropriated as the local share of the town of Mount Desert's contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to 12th grade for the period July 1, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. The school board recommends a figure of $609,318. Yeah. One of them is authorizing us to raise, suspend it. And this is authorizing us to raise it. So they do match. Yep. Any other questions? If you ever have questions like this that you need to find out during the year, a good way to do that is by joining the warrant committee. Yeah, pretty good. Because we're all getting old and feeble. Well, some of us. This is a hand count. Any other discussion? All those in favor? All those opposed? The vote was 88 ayes and zero nays. Article 65 passes. Now we get to the written ballot, so everybody gets to get up and walk around. While we're doing the lineup for the walk around, we will do the raffle to entertain you so you can win either a composter or a grain barrel. Do you have what? You ready? To see what some... To see what some of the voters of the town of Mount Desert will raise and appropriate for the annual payments on debt service previously approved by the legislative body for non-state funded school construction projects. Oh, that one we did already. Let's do the next one. How about number 66? To see what some of the voters of the town of Mount Desert will raise and appropriate in additional local funds for school purposes. A recommendation of $2,977,917 for the period July 1, 26, and ending June 30, 2027, which exceeds the state's essential programs and services allocation model by 2,900,000, their recommendation is $2,977,917, as required to fund the budget recommended by the school board. The school board recommends $2,977,917 for additional local funds and gives the following reason for exceeding the state's essential programs and services funding model by $2,977,917. The state funding model underestimates the actual cost to fully fund the 2026 budget, 2026-27 budget. So that's their recommendation. Is there one from the Warren Committee?

Sure, the Warren Committee recommends $2,977,917. Can I keep reading it?

No, you're good. All those are any discussion? This is a written ballot, so you have to come down and get your little voting stick in. You get a ticket when you come up. Come down the center and go up the side aisles.

But you have to wait a second.

Any other discussion? You have to have your green card. That sounds bad. Let's get a different color next year. Next year we'll get red. All right, this is the beginning. You get to choose between the water barrel and the compost robot. The first number, and you get to pick what you want, is 442-985. 442-985. Anybody got it? The second number that may or may not be true is 442854. 442854, anybody want it? We can just keep doing this all night till we get down to the last four tickets. One compost bucket is gone, we're moving on. The next number is 442-880. 442-880, anybody here?

There you go.

So the compost buckets are gone. And another one.

The odds are that way.

The next number is 442885. 442885. All that's left are the water barrels. 442885. How about... Four, four, two, eight, four, one. Anybody got four, four, two, eight, four, one still?

Eight, six, one, how about that?

Nope, four, one. Four, four, two, eight, four, one. Going for rain barrels here. Huh, you want one? You want mine? 442865. I did not just give her a winning ticket, I gave her mine. 442865. There you go, you want a water barrel? That's what you get.

Next one up.

Water barrel, the last water barrel.

4-4-2-8-6-7. There you go, you get a water barrel.

We do have one hand count after this, so don't go home yet.

And keep your green card so we can count you again.

Just talking loud enough for Rick to hear and we're good to go. You can actually talk in this building without a mic and people can hear it most of the time. Could be you. Could be you standing up here. Very prestigious.

It's a really bad idea.

Having fun yet? It's actually fine. No. When I do an auction, it's the same. About 20 minutes in, it hinges up for a while, and then I'm fine. A.K.D. They did the announcement, but... It may not be, it may not actually be, they haven't been authorized to talk about it yet.

Yes.

That was good.

Just so you know, after you stay for the next hand count, there are some leftover sandwiches out front if you're hungry or feeling peckish or want to feed the crows in your backyard. Now he's a professional trade voter.

Yeah, but neither of them is a winner. Did she win? Shut up. She came in young.

One more. Oh no, I do this all the time. It's actually, it's harder reading from a script than when I just make it up with the options. Because then you're just free-form.

On this, on 68? Yeah. Am I going to recommend Passage also? It says Warrant Committee recommends. Yeah. I'll recommend Passage.

Yeah, we just have it, we recommend, they left it off. Yes. We had all, unanimous.

That's what I figured.

Oh, you should do that.

Why don't you just stay? It's one more vote.

Yes, that's a good. All right, now we know.

Let me run through the last hand count and then you can do it.

Anybody else that wants to come up and vote? All right. This poll box is closed. And now they're gonna count them so you can entertain yourselves for a couple of minutes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Amen.

All right, article... Which article is that?

Article 66 passed at 77 to 4. Article 67 is another hand count. And then there's Article 68, which you don't have to use your hands for. Article 67 to see what some the town voters of the town of mount dessert will authorize the school board to expand for the fiscal year beginning July one 2026 and ending June 30 2027 from the town's contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 is described in the essential programs and services funding act. Non-state funded school construction products additional local funds for school purposes under the main revised statutes title title 20-a section 15 6 9 0 unexpected balances tuition receipts state subsidy and other receipts for the support of schools the 2025 2026 budget was five million eight hundred and forty three thousand and six dollars and the school board recommends a figure of six million four hundred ninety five thousand seven hundred and seventy two dollars and Any discussion? This is a hand count. All those in favor? 82 ayes. Are there any nays? 82 in Article 67. Article 68, and this is the last article. In addition to the amount in Article 53 through 67, shall the school board be authorized to expend such other sums as may be received from state federal grants or programs or other sources during the fiscal year 2026 2027 for school purposes provided that such grants programs or other sources do not require the expenditure of other funds not previously appropriated current year totals was two hundred seventeen thousand seven hundred and twenty four thousand the school board recommends passage any discussion of article 68 All in favor of Article 68? Aye. All those opposed? And before we close up, you want to talk?

Hi, everyone. Thanks for coming. This is the first time in 18 or 15 years that it's been light out when we've left town meeting. I basically am up here because I want to thank Jerry for doing a great job being town moderator. And I'd also like to thank Jeff Wood for his years of service on the Board of Selectmen. That's all I have to say.

I would say that I would entertain a motion to adjourn. All right, everybody go home.