Hearing and vote on budget Aug. 8

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — The Dexter Town Council will host a public hearing on a proposed $3.6 million budget on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. and then vote on whether to accept the figures recommended by Town Manager Linda-Jean Briggs.

    The budget is $61,843 more than last year, even though Briggs cut expenditures by $169,564. “Our projected revenue will be down by $237,000 this year,” Briggs said.
    An increase in the town’s share of the School Administrative District 46 budget coupled with a decrease in state revenue sharing is also a factor, Briggs said. Dexter will only receive $215,767 in revenue sharing this year compared to $297,414 in 2012, according to the Maine Revenue Service. “That’s more than a 27 percent decrease,” Briggs said.
    The council will also discuss a proposed ordinance on adding more “no-swim zones” to Lake Wassookeag. At a previous council meeting, Briggs and some of the councilors said they were concerned about youngsters jumping off the old dam behind the A.E. Robinson store on Church Street. However, there were some questions about ownership of the lot where swimmers are congregating, and Briggs said she would research the matter and report back to the council.
    Other items on Thursday’s agenda include:
• Setting the due date on taxes and the mil rate;
• Renewal of a victualer’s license for Todd Gray, who operates an ice cream truck;
• Consider the sale of properties on Railroad Avenue and Main Street; and
• Approve new general assistance guidelines.
    Town Clerk Shelley Watson also announced this week that nomination papers will be ready for this fall’s municipal elections starting Monday, Aug. 12.
    Terms expiring this year are Council Chairman Peter Haskell, Vice Chairman Andre Robichaud and Councilor Alan Wintle; Dexter Utility District Trustees Trampas King, John Salley and James Silverman; SAD 46 Directors Rebecca McDonald, David Sickles and Stephanie Watson; and Hospital Administrative District 4 Board Member William Lovejoy. Voters will also select six members of a newly-created Dexter Charter Commission. Each member will serve a two-year term.
    Nomination papers must be filed with the town clerk no later than 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23. Each petition must have at least 25 and no more than 100 signatures of Dexter residents for each candidate to be nominated.