Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

Many Gray residents are aware that Audrey Burns is a candidate for a one-year term on the Gray Town Council. Many may not be aware that Audrey, a life-long resident of Gray, has previously dedicated many years of service to our town.

Audrey has previously served on the town council for nine years during the 1970's and the 1990's, has been Chairman of the School Board, has served on the Planning Board, and has been a volunteer for the Gray Historical society for many years.

These and numerous other examples are indications of Audrey's dedication to the Town of Gray. For this reason and the fact that Audrey is intelligent, competent, hard working, honest, and soft-spoke are ample reasons for her to be re-elected to another term on the Gray Town council. Please consider this fact and give Audrey your vote on Tuesday June 14th.

Philip R. Ohman, Gray

Dear Editor,

It is good to see that we have some genuine choices for Town Council this year. So many times there is little difference in the candidates, but this year we have a pretty clear choice. We can choose more of the same, or we can move in a new direction. Two new candidates who will get my vote are Andy Upham and Denise Duda.

I have seen first hand Andy's astounding commitment to fiscal accountability. For more than a year now, Andy Upham has attended Council meetings and workshops, including hours and hours of budget work. He has been involved with the Town budget from the beginning, devoting an amazing amount of time and energy. He has raised concerns, asked questions, pointed out irregularities and followed up on details. He is quite likely the single most budget-knowledgeable citizen in the whole town.

Furthermore, Andy is a stickler for both accuracy and clarity, two particular qualities that I value highly. He also put his financial analysis skills to work by serving on the SAD15 Budget Advisory Committee this year, and urged the School Board to keep their increase below 5%, which they did.

Denise Duda has been a very active and helpful participant at many Council meetings, including the rezoning work the Council has been working on. Denise does her homework, asks intelligent questions, and is persistent when the first answers are incomplete, vague, or otherwise unsatisfactory. She clearly demands and expects competence, accountability, and clarity. I have been particularly impressed with her manner and demeanor. Yes, she asks the tough questions and demands real answers, but in a manner that is calm and respectful. She will be a fabulous addition to our Town Council.

Thank you.
Janet Neal, Gray

To the Editor,

I write to encourage New Gloucester voters to elect Dale Maschino to our Board of Selectmen. I've known Dale for years in a variety contexts, professional, community and personal. In all of these, I have been consistently impressed by Dale's integrity, intelligence and leadership.

Dale is not reluctant to make difficult decisions and do the work necessary to put them into effect, always with a focus on providing an effective, lasting solution for the problem at hand. As a leader, Dale demonstrates the willingness to approach each problem by first listening attentively to the concerns of those affected and then working diligently to create a solution that genuinely respects competing interests. This quality is all-too-rare and absolutely essential in someone we choose to represent our interests, concerns and values as a community. I hope my neighbors will recognize the opportunity represented by Dale's candidacy and vote to put his skills and candor to work for us as our Selectman.

Sincerely,
John Shattuck, New Gloucester

To the Editor:

I ask the voters of New Gloucester to consider voting for Ron Brann for School Board on June 14. Ron is an ideal candidate for the School Board due to his background as both a small business owner and former substitute teacher in our district. Ron must practice fiscal responsibility everyday in his business and will bring this expertise to the School Board. In addition, as a recent substitute teacher and active parent volunteer, he is very aware of the educational and building needs in our district. We need someone with a positive outlook who will work with others to ensure that our community is doing its best at educating our children at a price we can all afford.

Please vote yes for the school budget and for Ron Brann for School Board on Tuesday, June 14.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Beth Sutherland, New Gloucester

To the Citizens of Gray:

I wish to remind all of those who are registered to vote in Gray, that Town Meeting is this Saturday, June 11, at 8 a.m. I realize that some of you may be discouraged from participating this year due to the conflict with graduation ceremonies, but I encourage you to attend. If it appears that business may not be concluded before those of you who will be attending the graduation ceremonies must depart, then anyone may move to recess the meeting.

Remember, this is your meeting; you make the decisions.
Also, some of you may be reluctant to attend, believing that you are not entitled to vote on the budget because you haven't participated in the workshops. Nothing could be further from the truth. Again, this is your meeting; you have every right to participate. The Council members have accepted the responsibility of conducting business on your behalf, which includes presenting a budget proposal for your scrutiny. Whether or not you attended the workshops is irrelevant. This is a proposal, subject to your approval. You are paying the bills and you have the final say.
If this year's budget proposal is acceptable to you, by all means come and support it. Conversely, if you are uncomfortable with this year's increase, come and be heard. Last year the citizens chose to reduce the increase in appropriations, and approved an amended budget that they found more acceptable. It was then the Council's job to adjust expenditures to comply with the mandate of the voters and I, for one, will gladly do it again this year.

Gary Foster, Gray

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, June 14, the voters in the Town of Gray will be asked to vote on a non-binding referendum asking whether they support the idea of transferring the Pennell Institute to the Gray Public Library Association (GPLA) as the future home of the Gray Public Library.I write this in hopes of answering several questions about the GPLA's purpose and mission.

The GPLA was formed in February 2005 to raise money to support the community and educational programs of the Gray Public Library. The initial charge for the GPLA was to raise funds either to expand the existing facility or move the Library to a more suitable location as the current space on Hancock Street is too small to meet the needs of the growing population.

Unfortunately it appears unlikely the Hancock Street location can be expanded to provide the additional interior room and parking spaces needed.
In later meetings, the possibility of moving the Library to the Pennell Institute was suggested. At the same time, several more volunteers joined the GPLA, two with extensive professional experience in large fund raising and grant writing efforts.

The money needed to renovate and repair Pennell Institute has been estimated at approximately $2 million. Our mission is to raise the money through donations from charitable organizations and individuals. We have already received an exceptionally generous $100,000 donation from an anonymous patron and both members of the GPLA with fund-raising experience feel that raising the rest of the money is entirely achievable. With the valuable experience and energy of the volunteers and the support of the community we are confident we will be successful.

I urge all voters to support the referendum.

Thank you,
Julie A. Sheets
GPLA volunteer

Dear Citizens of Gray and New Gloucester;

On June 14th we will be afforded the opportunity to go to the polls to vote on our annual school budget. Our school administrators, educators, Budget Advisory Committee and many community members have come together to create and present this fiscally responsible budget to our taxpayers.
The overall school budget represents an increase in spending of 4.98%. Of this increase, 3.95% represents fixed costs such as salaries and benefits. That leaves 1.03% in discretionary spending that covers everything from paper to books to computers.

Although this budget represents an increase in spending from 2004, the impact to our tax mil rate will be a decrease. Gray's mil rate for education will go down from $9.70 to $8.66. In New Gloucester, the mil rate for education will go down from $8.30 to $7.11.

A separate ballot question is also being presented to the voters asking for additional funding to implement All-Day Kindergarten for the District. Passing the All-Day Kindergarten question would bring the educational mil rate in Gray to $8.80 and New Gloucester to $7.20. These proposed mil rates, including All-Day K, still represent a decrease from 2004 for both communities.

Balancing the educational needs of our communities and the tax burden to the individual taxpayer is an awesome task. Many fine people within our communities came together to do just that. Please take the time to get the facts about this budget and vote on June 14th. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,
Sandy MacDonald, Gray

To the Editor:

Memorial weekend - a chance to spend more time with our first grandchild! The travel from Rhode Island to Maine was no problem as we had traveled it so many times in the past fifteen to visit our daughter. Friday night came to a close and Saturday my husband spent all day building a swing set for our pride and joy. Unfortunately, the dedication caused common sense to flee. The end result? At 3 a.m. Sunday morning my hard-working husband went into low blood sugar crisis. A 911 call to New Gloucester Fire and Rescue was quickly answered! A very comforting and knowledgeable woman and her two trusty male co-workers quickly responded. Calm, courteous and professional, these three immediately took command and by the time rescue arrived, my husband was back to normal! Still his calm and professional demeanor added to the reassurance. By 4 a.m. everyone had gone. But as I drifted off to sleep, I thanked God for the New Gloucester volunteer Fire and Rescue Team.

With Our Sincerest Gratitude,
Ted and Chris Craig-Cooke

To the Editor,

I am disappointed about Council Chair Pam Wilkinson issuing a recent opinion chastising the voters in Gray for exercising their right(s) at town meeting.

Being called irresponsible for exercising the right to speak at Town Meeting is what a chairperson says who has been on the council too long-forgetting who is served and forgetting what the budget process is all about. The following review is for the current elected officials.

Typically the Department Heads present their proposed budgets to the Town Manager. He makes his changes then presents his collective budget to the council. The Council makes their changes, and then presents the budget to the People so we can decide to accept or reject this budget at town meeting.

At town meeting is not the time to attack citizens for not holding the council's hand during the above process. By the way, I have attended some budget prep meetings and found suggestions being made were rebuffed because we were told the budget was in the making and we should remember that.

Beyond being disappointed, I am angry that the present council chairperson knew about the H.S. graduation conflict with the town meeting and did nothing. Is this what a team player does? Please, do not let this stop you from exercising your right to vote. Remember your family members serving away from home or loved ones incapacitated in some way, unable to attend. We need to sacrifice a short time to be at the meeting at 8 a.m. It is now the time for We The People on June 11th and don't forget to vote again on June 14th for new town council candidates who will serve you going forward.

Fran Monroe, Gray