Brooksville, Maine Welcomes You!
Hello Brooksville,
STOP BY
THE TOWN HOUSE
TO PICK UP
YOUR TOWN REPORT.
Municipal Election and Town Meting
March 1, 2021
10:00 am to 8:00 pm
COVID 19 Vaccination Information
Election and Referendum Articles
Hello Brooksville,
2021 Annual Town Warrant
for Election and Town Meeting Articles Voted by Secret Ballot
Greetings. In the name of the State of Maine, you are hereby required to notify and warn the voters of the Town of Brooksville, in said County, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, to meet at the Brooksville Public Service Building at 10:00 AM on Monday the first (1st) day of March, A.D., 2021 to vote on the following Articles by secret ballot.
M1. To Elect a Moderator by written ballot as provided in 30-A M.R.S.A. 2524(2).
M2. To choose by secret ballot the following officers for the ensuing year: one Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, Tax Collector, Treasurer, Town Clerk, Municipal Fire Chief, Road Commissioner, Budget and Advisory Committee members, School Board members, and Planning Board members.
Seats
Open Office or Position Running
one Selectman, Assessor, & Overseer of the Poor Horace Snow
one Tax Collector Yvonne Redman
one Treasurer Freida Peasley
one Town Clerk Amber Bakeman
one Municipal Fire Chief
one Road Commissioner
two Budget & Advisory Committee members ______________ ____________
two School Board members
two Planning Board members Donald Condon Chris Raphael
The Registrar of Voters hereby gives notice that she will be in session at the Brooksville Public Service Building at 10:00 AM on Monday the first (1st) day of March, A.D., 2021 for the purpose of updating the Voters list.
*c/o denote carry over account
M3. Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $ 243,500.00 for the Municipal Administration Accounts pursuant to the categories listed below: *With $55,000.00 from surplus, $75,000.00 Auto excise, and $113,500.00 Property Tax Commitment.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
Employee Health / Opt Out Insurances $ 30,000.00 c/o
Public Service Building
Legal Account
Worker Comp, Unemployment & Liability Ins. 7,000.00 c/o
Current Administration
Social Security/ Medicare
Assessors' Professional Assistance 10,500.00
GA - General Support/Assistance
Total
M4. Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $ 126,887.24 for the Municipal Licensing, Dues & Fees Accounts pursuant to the categories listed below: *With $4,000.00 from Auto excise, and $122,887.24 Property Tax Commitment.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
Animal Control Account
Tax Anticipated Loan Fees
Maine Municipal Association Dues 3,254.00
HCR/911 Alerting
Septic Waste Disposal Fees
Blue Hill Surry Transfer Station 2021 Fee 105,079.00
Hancock County Planning Commission Dues 850.00
Total $ 126,887.24
M5. Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000.00 for the Municipal Park and Recreational Accounts pursuant to the categories listed below: *With $7,000.00 from Watercraft excise tax, and $28,000.00 Property Tax Commitment.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
Brooksville Athletic Field
Brooksville Coastal Waters & Town Landing Acct. 7,000.00 c/o
Community Center
Sedgwick/ Brooksville Town Landing (Walker Pond) 15,000.00 c/o
Total
M6. Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $ 36,350.00 for the Municipal Health and Safety Accounts pursuant to the categories listed below: *With $36,350.00 from Property Tax Commitment.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
Brooksville Vol. Fire Department Account $ 30,850.00 c/o
Municipal Street Lights
Total
M7. Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $ 362,000.00 for the Municipal Public Works Accounts pursuant to the categories listed below: *With $ 57,000.00 from surplus, $120,000.00 Auto excise, $55,000.00 LRAP(URIP) fund, and $130,000.00 Property Tax Commitment.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
Highway and Bridge Maintenance Account $ 62,000.00 c/o
Hot Top and Resurfacing
Winter Roads
Total $ 362,000.00
M8. Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $ 65,000.00 for the Municipal Reserve Accounts pursuant to the categories listed below: *With $45,000.00 from Property Tax Commitment, and $20,000.00 surplus.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
BPSB Addition Construction Reserve Account $ 5,000.00 c/o
Community Center Repair Reserve Account 15,000.00 c/o
Salt Shed Reserve Account
Property Revaluation Reserve Account 10,000.00 c/o
Fire Truck Reserve Account
Fire Station Reserve Account
Total
M9. Shall the Town raise the sum of $ 51,918.00 for Municipal Donation and Support Accounts pursuant to the categories listed below: *With $51,918.00 from Property Tax Commitment.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
BFP Library
BH Society Aid of Children
Brooksville Cemetery Associations Maintenance 5,000.00
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
PAC Ambulance
Downeast Community Partners
WIC
Community Health & Counseling
Northern Light Homecare
Hospice of Hancock County 1,500.00
Eastern Area Agency on Aging
Lifeflight
Brooksville Historical Society
Yesterday's Child 100.00
YMCA 2,000.00
Total $ 51,918.00
M10. Shall the Town authorize the Select Board to A) enter into contracts and lease agreements, B) accept all State of Maine Funds or Grants, Donations and Cemetery Trust Funds, C) spend up to 25% of the budgeted amount in each category of the current annual budget during the period from Jan. 1, 2022 to the 2022 Annual Town Meeting, D) carry forward any remaining balances as of Dec. 31,2020 as verified by Audit on new and existing continuing accounts.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
M11. Shall the Town authorize the Select Board, Tax Collector and Treasurer to A) charge the State of Maine (SoM) allowable interest on unpaid property taxes after Oct. 31, 2021,B) establish and continue Investment Accounts within the Laws of the SoM during the year, C) sell and/or dispose of any real estate acquired by foreclosure and/or any surplus personal property within the Laws of the SoM, D) accept prepayment of taxes not yet committed, pursuant to 36MRSA §506 and pay interest on abated taxes at 3% pursuant to 36MRSA §506-A.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
M12. Shall the Town authorize the Selectmen to notify DMR that the Town wishes to exercise its exclusive rights to the alewives in Brooksville between Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021.
(Established at Annual Town Meeting in March 2016. This is required by the State in order for the Town to oversee the management of the alewife migration in Brooksville. This would have to appear each year in Annual Town record as approved or failed.)
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
M13. Shall the Town authorize the Select Board to change the position of Road Commissioner from elected to appointed, effective January 1, 2022.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: Wait until open town meeting
Selectmen Recommend
M14. Shall the Town establish a continuing account for the Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Committee and raise the sum of $ 10,000.00 to fund this account. Monies would go toward an engineering study of Brooksville's coastal infrastructure & it's vulnerability to the rising tides and changes in climate. *With $10,000.00 from surplus.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
M15. Shall the Town accept, with the Town of Sedgwick, the donation of Map 8, Lot 28 recognized as the Walker Pond Outlet from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust? This would be a protected forever gift of land from MCHT to be managed and maintained by the Town of Brooksville and Sedgwick jointly.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
M16. Shall the Town establish a funded Peninsula Multi Town Projects Account for costs attributed to the organization, research, and development of projects which in the future may benefit the Towns interested, when entered into as a group or Co-Operative rather than individually. This would be a continuing account. Request $10,000.00.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
SCHOOL ARTICLES
S1. Shall the Town authorize the School Committee to provide one transportation route for as many secondary students as possible based on the
school's policy and budget?
S2. Shall the Town authorize the School Committee to expend state and federal funds and other receipts to operate the schools for the period July 1, 2021 to
June 30, 2022?
S3. Shall the Town authorize the School Committee to carry forward any surplus verified by the audit from the 2019-2020 fiscal year budget to be used to reduce the tax commitment for the 2021-2022 budget?
S4. Shall the Town appropriate the sum of $1,996,199.83 and raise the sum of $1,707,310.63 for the 2021-2022 school budget?
School Committee Recommends a “Yes” Vote.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
The Town’s school budget submitted in this Question S4 totals $1,996,199.83. It includes locally raised funds to be raised in the amount of $1,707,310.63. The locally raised amount exceeds the state’s Essential Programs and Services spending model $627,785.91. This budget includes these expenditure category cost centers:
Expenditures
System Administration $99,438.42
Student Transportation $119,141.68
Regular Instruction
Student & Staff Support $53,879.69
School Administration $110,230.21
Facilities Maintenance $176,115.49
Special Education
Other Instruction
* Food service is considered separately per recommendation of Maine Dept. of Education; see question S5 which follows this article.
S5. Shall the Town expend $73,240.66 for the food service program and raise and appropriate $49,740.56 as the local share for the July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 fiscal year; with authorization to expend any additional, incidental, or miscellaneous receipts in the interest and for the well being of the food service program.
School Committee Recommends a “Yes” Vote.
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
S6. Shall the Town raise $10,000.00 for the Septic Reserve Account, making it $45,000.00?
School Committee Recommends:
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
S7. Shall the Town raise $5,000.00 for the Technology Reserve Account, making it $10,000.00?
School Committee Recommends:
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend: YES
S8. Shall the Town raise $5,000.00 for the Roof Repair Reserve Account, making it $5,000.00?
School Committee Recommends: $5,000.00
Budget and Advisory Committee Recommend:
* All 2021 Warrant Articles will be presented in referendum form for your safety, if you would like an absentee ballot, pick up an application at the Town House or contact the Office at 326-4518.
Please find annual letters from the Selectmen, Chairman of the Budget and Advisory Committee, and Superintendent below:
This year has been a real challenge not only around the world, the nation and our state, but also right here in Brooksville. As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic everyone's life, at least for a moment, seemed to halt in one way or another. We quickly learned about guidelines, restrictions and safety measures. Social distancing and PPE became as common in our daily routine as getting up in the morning. The last time the Public Service Building was open to: Walk-in Office hours, meetings, Meals for Me, quilting, Town breakfasts, Library games, exercise & crafting class or reading groups, as well as most other types of activities, was March 2020. Almost one full year ago as you are reading this.
You have been great in contacting the offices either by phone or email letting us know what you need, supplying us with the necessary information so that all of your paperwork, licenses, and applications could be completed and ready for you to pick up in a timely fashion. Thank you not only from the three of us but also, everyone else in the building. Hopefully the vaccination process will go smoothly and by the end of 2021 we can all get back to a more "normal" routine.
In spite of COVID-19 daily life found a new way to function and the year 2020 has managed to be a busy one. We are still open to the public and have become quite efficient in operating through a window. The Library has also maintained hours and services through internet and curbside pickup. The Broadband Committee continue working on internet improvement. We have entered into a Solar project agreement with Revision Energy which will hopefully reduce our carbon footprint but also supply an electrical supply alternative, for Municipal Buildings. In 2020 we received an anonymous donation to go towards installation of a charging station. This was a wonderful surprise and was much appreciated. It will be a great addition to Brooksville. We are looking into purchase options, setup and location.
We have continued to work jointly with Brooklin and Sedgwick to address the future of solid waste disposal in our communities. We are pursuing two options; forming a tri-town transfer station, and ways to stay with Blue Hill/Surry, which would be the most desirable. Together the three towns are presently working with Blue Hill/Surry to update our contract trying to make a more equable distribution of fees between the towns.
This Multi-Town interaction has worked well. We are looking into forming an inter-local type of agreement so that in the future, neighbor Towns, may work together on projects. We may find it would be more viable for, and beneficial to all of the communities involved, when entered into together or as a Co-Op. We are asking for $10,000.00 to fund it.
We are also considering making the position of Road Commissioner an appointed one rather than elected in coming years and the question will be on this ballot, and would take effect in 2022. This will give the Selectmen more flexibility in finding individuals to fill the position.
Work with the Comprehensive Plan Committee (CPC) continues. CPC had entered into a contract with EMDC to help develop the Comprehensive Plan and Report. After a short time we found EMDC would not able to meet the timelines they had set. Late summer we stepped away from EMDC and re-contracted with Jarod Farn-Guillette, and the newly reorganized Hancock County Planning Commission. The work is moving ahead nicely. We hope to have a plan which both you and the State of Maine will approve in the coming year.
The public landings in town are facing some challenges. The wall at Betsy's Cove is failing. The Harbor Committee has been working on a plan to repair it. The cost of the repair is estimated at $600,000.00. We may be able to get a SHIP Grant, this could reduce the town's cost a bit. At the South Wharf Road Landing we were able to add to parking along the side of the road. We still need to widen the access to the Beach in a way not to damage the underground telephone lines which feed to Castine. We will also plan to install cement planks on the beach to improve traction.
We have again been fortunate to work with Ciona Ulbrich at the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, who purchased the Outlet to Walker's Pond. They cleaned up the site, added an improved fishway, viewing trails, and a parking area. As with Bakeman Beach, MCHT now plans to transfer ownership over to the residents of Brooksville. We will be presenting an article asking if the Town will accept, along with the Town of Sedgwick, the access at the Outlet to Walker's from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. It is hoped that both Brooksville and Sedgwick will maintain and upkeep the outlet through the Sedgwick-Brooksville Landing Committee as they have the Landing at Walker's Pond. The alewife migration into the pond has been awaited annually by both Brooksville's friends and fowl... for many years. With this new fishway and parking area it will continue to be for many more years.
It does not look like the Town Salt Shed construction will happen in 2021. We will still be asking $20,000.00 be added to the reserve account, reducing the amount which will have to be borrowed when construction does move forward.
In 2021 we will be presenting a total Municipal Tax bill of $945,655.24 for your approval. Our undesignated surplus was down as was water craft excise. We did see an increase in auto excise, this was an increase which most municipalities in the State witnessed this year. The School will be asking $2,065,940.39 be raised and appropriated.
Last year, as we had predicted our mil rate, did increase, but to a much larger degree than we had expected. Each year RJD Appraisal, the assessing agency we work with, keeps an eye on property sales. Over the prior 3 years waterfront, property sale pricing had been noticeably dropping. Despite our being amid a pandemic, the Assessors felt this could not go another year without being addressed. That decision hit us hard, especially as all inland sales over the same period of time had remained relatively level. In order to bring both waterfront and inland assessment within the State recommended range, waterfront property assessments were adjusted down by nearly 30 percent. We wish we could have put this off another year but the issue had to be addressed. By taking roughly 30% of the valuation off all waterfront properties our total municipal valuation dropped by approximately 17%, this resulted in our overall mil rate going from .00572 to .0068, with inland properties receiving the full increase on unadjusted valuations. Though we sent out a letter in August explaining this change we again wanted to mention that the decision has weighed heavily on our minds. Though mil rates do go up we never take lightly the affect these changes will have on each of you.
In ending we would like to say thank you to each of you for hanging in there. We appreciate all of you, and the way you genuinely care about our Town. As a community we are very fortunate, you are what keeps ..... our 200+ year old Town.... growing strong. You make Brooksville - HOME! We hope you will enjoy this annual report not only for the financial records within, but also for the memories. Thank you.
Respectfully Submitted,
John H Gray, Chairman Richard M Bakeman Horace A Snow
**Brooksville Budget & Advisory Report 2021
Well, that was quite the year. We managed to hold a normal, in-person Town Meeting on the first Tuesday in March, but just a few days later the door slammed shut. Many of the community events that are such a large part of town life were put on hold. No school concerts, breakfasts at the Community Center, Meals for Me at the Town House, steelband street dances or ball games. However, the citizens of Brooksville are resilient and creative. We have adapted and life goes on. School opened in September with new safety protocols and lots of hard work and cooperation on the part of everyone involved. The library and the market went curbside, nourishing mind and body. The crew at the Town House, with plastic curtains and a takeout window, worked hard to keep the wheels of Town government turning so that every truck was registered and every dog licensed. Last, and maybe least, your Budget Committee, through the magic of Zoom, managed to review the budget for the upcoming year just like we always do. Here are some of the things we talked about:
The Community Center lost all its revenue from events and fundraisers, but the committee continues to take care of the facility, looking forward to its re opening. Pandemic or no, the need to maintain the building remains. Both the roof and the front porch are badly in need of repair. Towards this we have recommended adding $15,000 to the Community Center major repair reserve account.
We also recommended adding $20,000 to the Salt Shed reserve account and $10,000 to the Fire Station reserve account. The Selectmen also requested $10,000 to be put in a reserve account for the Rising Tide Committee to study the effects of sea level rise and other climate issues on the Town’s public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts & landings. Most other requests were fairly flat, and the amount to be raised by taxation for the municipal articles was down slightly over last year.
Two items which are not on the warrant but may come up at a special town meeting later in the year are the repairs to Betsy’s Cove and the salt shed. Others will go into more detail, but the engineering study funded last year for rebuilding the retaining wall at the landing was completed and the project is ready to go out to bid. The Town has secured a $250,000 grant from the state and, once a firm price and the approval of the voters are secured, the town will borrow the rest at a very low rate of interest. Our thanks to the Harbor Committee for their work on this project.
We’re working (slowly, I know) on firming up plans for the salt shed, so we may be able to address it at that same special town meeting as the Betsy’s Cove project.
Another thing that will be different this year will be the format of our Town Meeting. The voting for all articles for both the municipal and school budgets will be by written ballot. This vote will take place on Monday March 1, along with the regular elections for town offices. Absentee ballots will be available and others will go into this in more detail. Both the town and the school are working on community outreach to make sure everyone has all the information they need to make informed decisions.
Two members of this committee are retiring this year. Our thanks to Pam Storm and David Zachow for their thoughtful and steady participation in this process.
In closing, we would like to offer our condolences to all who have lost loved ones during this challenging time, and we encourage everyone to keep working together to support our community. Stay safe and be kind.
Respectfully submitted,
Matthew Freedman, Chair, John Kimball, Secretary, Earl Clifford, Jr., Dana Hooper, Pam Storm, Andrew Ladd, and David Zachow
** Superintendent Union 93
To the Citizens of Brooksville:
The proposed expenditure budget for the school is up $43,555.55 or 2.15%. In this COVID year, we have tried to keep new spending down. We are asking for one more day of nurse services (making it two), but that is the only new position. We have included $35,000.00 for GSA’s request of $1,000.00 more than state tuition for each high school student. And, we have included a $13,000.00 proposed environmental engineering study of the school building. Aside from that, it’s a maintenance budget.
I realize that doing Town Meeting by referendum this year is different for everyone, and I hope you will contact me, Cammie Fowler, or Matt Freedman before March 1st if you have any questions about the proposed school budget.
This has certainly been a strange year. Up to this point, we have only had one remote week (November) because of COVID protocols. I write this on January 21st . So, we have been doing amazingly well with keeping kids in school in Brooksville in the midst of the pandemic. Only 22% of Maine schools are in session every day, and Brooksville is one of them. However, this all could change by the time you are reading this! We are going week by week. So far, so good.
State subsidy is $107,982.24 for 2020-21. My guess is $86,385.79 for 2021-22 (20% less). That figure will be set in June.
It has been my pleasure to have served as Superintendent in Brooksville for 15 Town Meetings!
Respectfully,
Mark Hurvitt
Superintendent
Ok, I guess that is it. Never hesitate to contact the office (326-4518) if you would like additional information forwarded or have questions. Although the Open Town House Polling Hours will be Monday March 1, 2021, between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm, we recommend voting Absentee. For your safety, due to COVID 19 the number of people who can be in the building at any one time is limited, waiting lines may be long, and as the weather is an unknown waiting outside may be problematic.... please if possible plan to vote Absentee. Thank you.
As always please feel free to share this email.
Be well, Stay safe, and Be kind,
Gayle
--
For more information on Warrant Article M14
Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Committee
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE
Zoom meetings
are Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
on the following dates:
The town office is open
Monday and Wednesdays
9 AM to 2 PM
and Thursday nights
6 PM to 8 PM
for curbside service.
You can still call, fax and email us.
CONTACT US FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO TRANSACTIONS BY MAIL OR IN PERSON:
CALL 326-4518
FAX 326-8039
Email town.office@brooksvillemaine.org
TAX COLLECTOR – tax.collector@brooksvillemaine.org
TOWN CLERK – town.clerk@brooksvillemaine.org
TREASURER – treasurer@brooksvillemaine.org
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER – jdevlin04617@gmail.com
PLUMBING INSPECTOR – johnhgray42@gmail.com
LIBRARIAN – brook@brooksvillelibrary.org
HARBORMASTER – harbormaster@brooksvillemaine.org
FIRE DEPARTMENT -
CHIEF, Matt Dow 479-1911
EMERGENCIES - dial 911
FOR A BURN PERMIT
http://www13.informe.org/burnpermit/public/index.htmlt
Mailing address:
TOWN OF BROOKSVILLE
PO BOX 314
BROOKSVILLE, MAINE 04617
FIND US -
Brooksville Maine Town Office - on FaceBook
Website - www.brooksvillemaine.org
The Brooksville Volunteer Fire
Department is now having their
Thursday night meetings.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW
All dogs must be registered annually by December 31st
The 2020 licenses expire December 31, 2020. To avoid a$25 late fee please pay by December 31st.
WE ACCEPT CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS.
2019 Annual Town Report
Sedgwick Brooksville Town
Landing Committee
The Harbor Committee
meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm, at
the Public Service Building .
Mark Shaughnessy, Chairman
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S HOURS
The CEO will be in on Wednesdays, between the hours of 9 a.m
and 12 p.m.
Directions to the Walkers Pond Landing
(Sedgwick Brooksville Town Landing)
From Coastal Road ME175 in Brooksville turn right onto Caterpillar
Hill Road, ME15/ME 175, go 1.4 miles, turn right onto Cooper Farm Road (*just past a scenic turnout, the Cooper Farm Road is the 1st
road on right after turnout). Almost .2 miles on the Cooper Farm
Road, on the right, is the Walkers Pond Road. The Walkers Pond Road
is a mile long dirt road. Speed limit on this road is 15 mph. At the end
of this road is the Sedgwick Brooksville Town Landing.
BLUE HILL / SURRY TRANSFER STATION
207-374-5458
Starting March 29, 2020 the hours are changing as follows:
Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
DEMO HOURS: 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m.
CLOSED ON ALL HOLIDAYS EXCEPT FOR
LABOR DAY
HELP US FIND YOU IN AN EMERGENCY!
House number signs, green & white $10.00 each
to order call 326-4904
Leave your name, phone number & address.
We will gladly make them up for you.
Thank you for your help.
THE BROOKSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
