MADAWASKA, Maine – About 75 packed into the Madawaska High School gym on June 24 for the town’s annual meeting, in which they approved a $9.96 million municipal budget and three new ordinances.
The budget is up by roughly $910,137 this year, with major increases including an additional $254,385 for the town’s ambulance department, an extra $147,113 for the police department and a new $132,209 community development line.
The intergovernmental line, which includes the town’s share of Aroostook County taxes, is also up by $161,753 this year.
Town Manager David Daigle said after town officials finalized the municipal budget last month that, with an additional $241,811 in anticipated revenues this year, this budget will have a $836,657 deficit.
But since then, residents have also rejected the town’s portion of the education budget, which represents a roughly $236,059 increase over the previous year. Madawaska’s school board will hold a workshop on July 2 at 5 p.m. to determine the next steps for the school budget, after which the budget will need to be approved via referendum vote.
Daigle said during the town meeting that Madawaska is looking at a potential mill rate increase of 1.5, adding that this is a rough calculation and that the final figure could change based on property values, state figures and the new school budget.
One of the larger items on the warrant asked if voters would let the town spend up to $750,000 to help complete the Mid-Town Plaza revitalization project. This is Madawaska’s largest project, and it has already received over $4 million in grant funding for this endeavor — a $2.1 million grant from the EDA with a 20 percent match, and a $2 million congressionally directed spending grant with no required match.
The Mid-Town Plaza revitalization has been among Madawaska’s major goals for roughly a decade, and work includes the construction of a new Fish River Rural Health Facility, a
makerspace for businesses and a visitor’s center. Work on the plaza so far has included extensive water and sewer infrastructure upgrades.
Daigle said this item ensures the town can handle any potential overruns and complete the project, adding that Madawaska may not need to spend any additional funding if these do not occur.
The three ordinances passed during the town meeting pertained to dumping snow, parking, and sign usage.
The snow ordinance will prohibit anyone from dumping snow into the road, sidewalk or breakdown lane after the town’s public works department has finished clean-up and snow removal. The ordinance states that it is up to the public works department to determine when the snow cleanup is complete.
“In no event shall any person push or unload snow into the traveled portion of any street, avenue, or public way,” the ordinance reads.
The parking ordinance sets standards for off-street loading and off-street parking. The ordinance accounts for situations like construction and expansions where there may be increased parking requirements.
The sign ordinance will require planning board approval for any new signs in the community. Sign owners will also need to complete an application and obtain a sign permit from the code enforcement officer. Some signs, such as government and legal signs, temporary signs, informational signs and interior signs not visible from the road, are exempt.
The ordinance also determines sign standards, placement and safety requirements. Illuminated signs, for example, will need to follow lighting requirements to ensure that motorists are not distracted by glare.
