By Nate Jones

Staff Writer 

South Portland residents will cast their votes in an unprecedented school budget validation referendum Tuesday.

The South Portland Community Center will be the only polling place for all residents to decide a one-question ballot concerning a proposed $42 million school budget approved by the city council late Monday night.

Per the new state mandated school consolidation laws, city councilors approved the proposed school budget on a line-by-line basis rather than voting on the bottom line, as in previous years. 

Councilor Maxine Beecher said she was concerned the new voting process could imply “new money just flew in the door,” to members of the public who were not familiar with the new process. She quickly reminded voters that the council had been working with the school department on this budget during the past month in various budget workshops.

“Because of the state school consolidation law I will have to read all 16 different resolves,” said Councilor Linda Boudreau, who ran the meeting in Mayor Jim Soule’s absence.

Councilor Claude Morgan reminded councilors that when totaled, the different areas of the school budget –including nearly $7.7 million for special education, $3.5 million for student and staff support and $1 million for system administration costs ---– actually cut school operating costs by 10 percent and was under a zero percent increase cap imposed by the council. In an effort to speed along the process “thrown at [the council] by the state,” Morgan repeatedly encouraged skipping any public discussion portion of each vote “until someone piped up.” 

“A trained monkey could do this. Give me the rubber stamp,” he said.

All 16 resolves concerning the school budget were unanimously passed by the council 5-0. Councilors Tom Blake and Soule were absent.

Superintendent of Schools Suzanne Godin said next year the council will be able to revert back to the traditional voting on a single dollar amount to be allocated for the school budget, as the legislature recently eliminated the new process. 

“I wanted to wait until you got through it to tell you,” she said. “Good job.”

South Portland resident Bernard Faunce, who said he had previously worked with the school department, was the only resident to voice his opinion on the school budget. 

“I hope you give them this money, and they use it the way they say they will, because they don’t,” he said. “Make sure they’re spending the money where they say they are.”

Faunce said during his time working with the school department he had witnessed school officials neglecting to spend funds allocated to repair a school boiler in order to keep certain educational staff on the payroll.

“The things I’ve seen that school department do, I’d be put in jail for,” he said.

Dog debate draws a crowd

Before voting on the school budget, councilors spent nearly two and a half hours listening to residents from South Portland and surrounding communities react to complaints about possible health and safety risks dogs could present to the neighborhood surrounding Willard Beach.

Many of the nearly 150 men, women and children donned their pet’s leashes and spoke to show their support for continuing to allow dogs on Willard Beach.

Although not all agreed.

“There are plenty of open spaces,” Willard Beach property owner John Gillick said. “Go to Bug Light, go to Shore Road, leave the beach for the people.”

Resident Michelle Bennington said Willard Beach is a publicly owned beach, and property owners should expect no more courtesy than those living on a public road.

She equated many of the complaints made by Willard Beach residents to the environment surrounding her own home.

“I’m sorry the 12 property owners at Willard thought they moved to a private, secluded beach,” she said. “Willard is a public beach just as Sawyer Street is a public street.”

Resident Paula Harris read a report written by South Portland Animal Control Officer Corey Hamilton, in which he recommended no change be made to the current dog ordinances, as he had not seen any evidence of complaints made by property owners. 

“There is no reason for me to make fabrications or tell lies,” Willard Beach property owner Dan Labrie said. “There’s a serious problem here.”

City Manager Jim Gailey said the city was in the beginning stages of forming a “small subcommittee” to meet over the next few months to review the dog ordinance.

“I foresee the committee being a combination of councilors, staff, residents and Willard Beach users,” he said. “We haven’t even appointed people yet.”

South Portland Dog Owners’ Group President Crystal Goodrich encouraged the council to “continue the enforcement of current dog ordinances.”

Bee ordinance still buzzing

A  proposed amendment to the city’s animal and fowl ordinance concerning honey bees passed the first reading after councilors made one amendment and discussed other possible changes which could “relax” what beekeepers are considering an “over-the-top” effort.

Councilors considered changing a $25 annual fee, a one-time cost for beekeepers, and limiting fines associated with the ordinance to $1,000 a year, rather than per each day of a violation.

The council ultimately decided only to remove language specifying the types of hives required, and left the fee schedule as it was originally presented.

“Perhaps we’re lucky we live in a community where councilors are concerned with these things and not larger issues, but let’s try not to imagine threats that don’t exist,” beekeeper Linda Merbank said. 

South Portland resident Omid Ghayebi said the proposed ordinance was “not obey-able”

“No beekeeper, not even the best of the best, can guarantee a swarm-free season,” he said.

The amendment passed by a 4 to 1 vote with Councilor Kay Loring in the minority. The council is expected to make a final vote  on May 19.