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Overflow voters sat in the elementary school library watching video screens of the action in the multipurpose room. |
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Photos Vincent Guadazno
Dick Silva complained that the three-percent raise for town employees was too low. |
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No trash left behind
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — Dozens of questions were raised, debated and answered to varying degrees at Monday and Tuesday’s Annual Town Meeting.
But ultimately voters were apparently satisfied because they passed each article put before them, including funding continued curbside trash pick-up and raises for town employees. The meeting spilled over to a third night and results from Wednesday night’s meeting will be posted on the Banner Online.
By the end of Tuesday night, voters had approved the $19.5 million town budget, as well as three Proposition 2 1/2 override articles that will permanently raise taxes by $90.47 each year for a median single-family home valued at $729,000 and $46.19 for a median condominium valued at $365,000.
For that tax increase, voters currently receiving curbside trash collection will see that service continue; salaries for the existing assistant recreation director and 1.5 summer police officers will be funded; and members of the town’s union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, will be eligible to receive up to three-percent merit salary increases in fiscal year 2009.
The rumored voter outrage over the large number of Prop. 2 1/2 overrides did not materialize. While a small group of residents rose repeatedly to voice concerns about town spending, they were outvoted each time.
“I sincerely believe we are now entering the world of town blackmail,” said Steve Melamed, a local business owner and chair of the town’s economic development council. “You’re not hearing us. The bottom line is we’re asking to go back and get this budget corrected. It’s flawed.”
“Mistakes were not made,” Selectman Michele Couture said in response to Mary-Jo Avellar, board of selectman chair, who told Town Meeting attendees that the $19.5 million budget should have been cut more. “Hard decisions were made. This budget is bare bones. Services will be cut.”
Voters also approved spending $100,000 on annual sidewalk replacement and storm drain maintenance. Normally, that expense is included in the town budget but was broken out this year for separate voter funding approval. These two articles together will increase taxes on a median single-family home by $14 and $7 on a median condo.
Funding for the FY 2009 community preservation budget passed, although it was challenged from the floor by resident Gregory Howe, who tried to have the three new appropriations indefinitely postponed to save the money to pay for the badly needed restoration of Town Hall. However, his amendment was voted down, and residents went on to approve spending $50,000 to pay for the part-time housing specialist; $50,000 to help restore the façade of the Provincetown Library; $50,000 for building restoration at the Fine Arts Work Center; and $25,760 to help restore the Lodge building next to the Pilgrim Monument.
The money to fund these projects comes from an existing three-percent surcharge on property taxes.
A total of 347 people attended the second day of Town Meeting, a considerable drop from the 490 people who attended Monday’s session, which began with Special Town Meeting.
psowers@provincetownbanner.com
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Apr 10th, 2008