By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
NEW SWEDEN, Maine — Despite approval of the town’s share of New Sweden School’s operating budget at the town meeting held earlier this year, the question of whether to keep the school open or not has arisen yet again in the community.
A petition was recently filed with enough signatures to warrant scheduling a special town meeting regarding public opinion on the school’s future. The meeting, held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, will coincide with the state’s referendum election and will pose the question, “Are you in favor of closing the New Sweden School grades K-8?” to the town’s citizens on a separate municipal ballot. Due to the fact that the vote will be taken via secret ballot, the public will be given an opportunity to voice their opinion on the issue during a public hearing being conducted on Monday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. Ironically, the hearing will be held at the New Sweden School.
“Regardless whether we support the issue, the board of selectmen does support the right of the town to petition,” commented New Sweden Board of Selectmen Chairman Ray Hildebrand. “It is their First Amendment right.”
The question is non-binding and advisory only, meaning that even if the majority of voters favor closing the school, only the school committee can make such a decision.
“If the majority of the people speak, then they should respect what the people say,” said New Sweden resident David Tardie, who circulated the petition.
Tardie advised he was acting on behalf of a group of citizens concerned over the increasing school budget in recent years.
“There are a lot of elderly people in this town,” Tardie said. “They shouldn’t have to choose between paying their taxes and, say, buying medicine. The budget has crept up and crept up. Myself and several others were concerned and have voiced our opinion.”
In 2011, the town’s portion of the New Sweden School operating budget was $233,000. In 2012 it nearly doubled to $404,000, and dropped down to $289,527 in 2013.
The special town meeting will be held on Nov. 5 in the lower level of the New Sweden town office. The meeting will be called to order at 8 a.m. and the polls will close at 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available at the town office.
