Public hearing on Town Meeting secret-ballot items

The Town will host a public hearing on the 13 refendum items voters will consider in Town Meeting's secret-ballot election on March 20. Voters will have an opportunity to ask questions about the ballot items, much as voters on the floor of Town Meeting will have a chance to do with the rest of the warrant articles on March 21. The secret-ballot articles are as follows: 

(ARTICLE 3) To proceed with the voting by secret ballot on the following question: Shall the Town approve  a total amount of $160,129 for the operating budget of the Recreation Department, with $65,129 to be raised and appropriated, and $95,000 to be appropriated from the undesignated fund.
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2019 budget: $149,052           2019 actual: $131,933            2020 request: $160,129

Selectpersons recommend: For:        5          Against:           0          Abstain:           0         
Budget Committee recommends: For:   4    Against:    0       Absent:            2

(ARTICLE 4) To proceed with the voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town appropriate $23,231 in unspent 2019 funds that lapsed into the Library Capital Reserve, and raise and appropriate $58,863, for a total sum of $82,094, to support the Library budget?
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2019 budget: $82,094                 2019 actual: $58,863                 2020 request: $82,094

Selectpersons recommend: For:        5          Against:           0          Abstain:           0         
Budget Committee recommends: For:  4            Against:  0  Absent:            2

(ARTICLE 5) To proceed with the voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town raise and appropriate $1,500 to support the Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area?
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2019 budget: $1,500             2019 actual: $1,500              2020 request: $1,500

Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1
            Budget Committee recommends: For:  4       Against:           1          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 6) To proceed with the voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town raise and appropriate $2,067.77 to support the Central Maine Area on Aging also known as Spectrum Generations? ______________________________________________________________________

2019 budget: $2,041          2019 actual: $2,041           2020 request: $2,067.77

Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1
            Budget Committee recommends: For:  4       Against:           1          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 7) To proceed with the voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town raise and appropriate $1,000 to support Literacy Volunteers?
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2019 budget: $1,000             2019 actual: $1,000              2020 request: $1,000

Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1
            Budget Committee recommends: For:  4       Against:           1          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 8) To proceed with voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town appropriate $20,000 from the Water Quality Improvement Fund, and raise and appropriate $20,000, for a total of $40,000, for lake water quality programs, including erosion control and invasive plant (milfoil) removal and prevention, operated by the following non-profit organizations. The current balance of the Water Quality Improvement Fund is $26,970.

Belgrade Lakes Association – Great Pond milfoil removal                           $16,000

7 Lakes Alliance – courtesy boat inspection, Youth
 Conservation Corps                                                                           $  8,400

Friends of Messalonskee – Belgrade Stream milfoil removal                       $13,100

McGrath Pond-Salmon Lake Association – courtesy boat inspection,

Youth Conservation Corps, Port-O-Let                                              $  2,500

                                                                                       TOTAL:                  $40,000
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2019 budget: $40,000           2019 actual: $40,000            2020 request: $40,000

Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1
            Budget Committee recommends: For:   5   Against: 0          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 9) To proceed with the voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town raise and appropriate $5,000 to support the Belgrade Lakes Region Business Group’s Fourth of July fireworks with a set rain date for July 5? ______________________________________________________________________

2019 budget: $4,500             2019 actual: $4,500              2020 request: $5,000

Selectpersons recommend: For:        3          Against:           1          Absent:            1
            Budget Committee recommends: For:  2       Against:           3          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 10) To proceed with the voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town raise and appropriate $1,116.50 to support the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center? ______________________________________________________________________

2019 budget: $1,116.50          2019 actual: $1,116.50           2020 request: $1,116.50

Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1
            Budget Committee recommends: For:  4       Against:           1          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 11) To proceed with voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town raise and appropriate $1,500 to support the Town’s Senior Resources Committee?
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2019 budget: $0                      2019 actual: $0                       2020 request: $1,500

Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1
            Budget Committee recommends: For:  4   Against:   1          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 12) To proceed with voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town of Belgrade accept from the Friends of Belgrade Lakes Village, a non-profit corporation, a gift of six benches and six bike racks with an approximate value of $25,000, installed as enhancements to the Route 27 road construction?
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Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 13) To proceed with voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town approve an ordinance that allows the Belgrade Fire & Rescue Department to recover the costs of responding to incidents involving people and/or entities who do not pay property taxes in Belgrade?
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Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 14) To proceed with voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town approve an update to the Town’s library ordinance, which was last amended in 2008?
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Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Absent:            1

(ARTICLE 15) To proceed with voting, by secret ballot, on the following question: Shall the Town approve an updated interlocal agreement for the maintenance and operation of the Town of Belgrade’s three dams?
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Selectpersons recommend: For:        4          Against:           0          Abstain:           1