Selectmen wrangle at meeting over expense at ballot recount

The Perry selectmen's meeting didn't go without debate at the regularly scheduled day on April 30. While it was relatively calm during the first two hours of a lengthy agenda, sparks ignited over the hiring of an attorney to oversee an April 13 recount of the March 26 referendum vote concerning the deal between Quoddy Bay LNG and the Town of Perry.

Bangor Attorney Erik Stumpfel and a court stenographer had been hired on behalf of the town to oversee the recount procedure. Selectwoman Jeanne Guisinger charged that Selectman David Turner did not have the authority to do so without calling an emergency meeting to approve their hiring. Turner stated, "I called on behalf of the town and town clerk to have an attorney here. I felt we needed to be represented since the opposition was going to have two attorneys, we needed at least one."

The bill totaled $2,304.09. Petitioners requested the recount after voters during the March elections narrowly voted in favor of a question asking if residents would approve a financial framework agreement with Quoddy Bay LNG. The recount held on April 13 did not result in any change.

During the April 30 meeting, Turner made a motion to authorize "the chairman's hiring of an attorney to represent the Town of Perry and town clerk in the recount process." This motion did not pass, and Selectman Dick Adams offered, "This time I say we [the town] pay the bill, and next time the petitioners better expect to pay for it." Guisinger at first seconded the motion, but then rescinded her second saying that attaching the last part of Adams' statement was "punishing" town residents for asking for a recount. After more discussion and a verbal bout among audience members, Turner again made a motion to pass the bill onto petitioners, but the motion did not receive a second. It was then announced by Turner that "by the action taken on the town warrant the bill will be paid by the town." Turner and Adams signed the warrant; Guisinger did not.

Revaluation
Among the other agenda items concerning the Town of Perry during the meeting was the subject of revaluation, and some residents are being asked to be prepared for a property tax increase in the near future. Comparing a recent revaluation in Eastport and the possibility of generating "fake" tax bills for Perry residents, Selectman Turner said, "We need to get going on this right now. We have to have this done in May, then have some public hearings in June so people know what's going on." Tax bills were expected to increase by one third for some, decrease by one-third for others, and some may remain the same.

Turner said, "It's something that's been put off for years, but it's got to be done." He also warned that problems may arise. "When we do this, it isn't going to be perfect." He added that residents may want to examine their current tax bill to make sure that all the information is correct before the revaluation process begins.

Speed zone review
The Town of Perry had a speed zone review completed for the Gin Cove Road and the Shore Road. The Maine Department of Transportation has recommended that "Winding Road" signs with a 25 mph advisory be erected on both sides of the curve/corner 0.35 miles north of the intersection of Shore Road/Gin Cove Road and on both sides of the curve/corner 0.20 miles south of the intersection of Route 1 and Gin Cove Road. The current speed limit signs of 45 mph would be changed to 35 mph on the Gin Cove Road from the intersection of Shore Road and extending northerly to a point 0.65 miles, for a total distance of 0.65 miles and 40 mph from a point 0.65 miles north of the intersection of Shore Road and Gin Cove Road and extending northerly to the intersection of Route 1 and the Gin Cove Road, for a total distance of 1.75 miles. On the Shore Road the speed limit would remain at 45 mph, except for the 25 mph curve warnings, from the intersection of Shore Road and Route 1 (south junction) and extending northerly to the intersection of Shore Road and Route 1 (north junction), for a total distance of 4.18 miles. Selectmen have unanimously "authorized this to happen officially" and are in the process of ordering the new sign change to be implemented. The change was in response to complaints from residents, runners and walkers that the 45 mph speed limit was too fast in some places on both roads.

The Town of Perry has submitted a damage assessment report to the Maine Emergency Management Agency regarding road washout and flooding caused by a storm in March. Road shoulder and ditch washout damage has been assessed at $3,000, and an application for reimbursement has been sent to the state. Selectmen said that there was "no guarantee" that the state would reimburse the town for storm damage but filed it accordingly.

The Town of Perry will make arrangements with Pine Tree Cablevision/Time Warner Communications to discuss future cable access to potential customers in town.

The Road Repair/Pavement Plan will go on as scheduled in spending $139,825 this year to repave South Meadow Road and Golding Road. Selectmen decided to "stick with the plan passed by voters in March" and not increase the cost of spending because of a recent price change in tar prices from $60 a ton to $64.80 a ton.

Jeanne Guisinger was appointed as Perry representative to serve on the Washington County Emergency Medical Service membership. Representatives of areas towns will meet on Tuesday, June 26, at the Meddybemps Community Center to discuss issues regarding the ambulance service that covers Eastport, Calais, Lubec and Perry and report back to their respective communities on changes, ideas and management discussions.

The next Perry selectmen's meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 30, at 4 p.m. at the municipal building. The day was changed because of the Memorial Day observance on Monday of that week.