News

10M School Bond passes
By Elizabeth Prata

SAD Board member Peter Pinkerton said he is "pleased and delighted" with the result of Tuesday's vote, which approved a 10 million dollar bond for Gray-New Gloucester schools. Mr. Pinkerton was Chair of the Facilities Update Renovation Committee, the Committee that researched and put together the bond that would pay for full renovations of all five of the district's schools, and he was on the edge of his seat during the long count after the polls closed at Newbegin Gym Tuesday night.Below, polls were busy and voters waited patiently in line for booths to open up. The Monument: Prata photo

Roughly half of the bond money would pay for the Memorial, Russell and Dunn Elementary improvements, and improvements at the Middle School and High School. The High School would also receive 5 million dollars worth of space improvements that would enhance teaching and learning in the sciences, arts, and athletics, as well as renovate the entry for safety purposes and move the Administrative office suites. Half the bond is interest free loan money and outright grant funds. The other half would be locally paid over twenty years.

The vote in New Gloucester on the local school bond question was: 1,132 yes to 537 no. In Gray the vote was similarly inclined with 1,659 yes to 654 no.

As soon as Mr. Pinkerton heard the good news he was speed dialing Superintendent Victoria Burns and Board Chair Dr. Alan Rich with the results, his voice ringing from the rafters at the gym. Both Ms. Burns and Dr. Rich were equally pleased with the results, Mr. Pinkerton said.

In the other local issue, the Town of Gray proposed two charter changes for voters to consider. The Finance Committee is currently restricted to Council-only membership. Chair Gary Foster wanted to open the membership of that committee so that citizens could also serve on it. All other Town Committees are composed of citizen members. The Finance Committee reviews the Town's finances each month, and tracks revenues and expenditures. The Finance Committee would still have Council members on it, the charter change was to allow citizens to also serve if they applied and were accepted. That change passed overwhelmingly with 1,607 saying yes and 625 voting no.

The other charter change that was proposed and overwhelmingly passed was to change the date of the Annual Town Meeting. The Council meets four times per month but once per year the Town's citizens meet to approve the municipal budget. That annual meeting has twice been in conflict with the School District's June Graduation event. With so many local people wanting to attend both, the Council proposed to change the Annual Town Meeting to the first Saturday in May and 1,795 people thought that was a good idea, with only 461 voting no.

Chair Gary Foster's reaction to the results was to exclaim, "Sweet!" He was absolutely thrilled, saying, "That's not just a huge margin, that's a mandate."
Turnout was extremely heavy with 46% of New Gloucester voters casting their ballot and in Gray about 43% turned out, mirroring the heavy turnout across the state.

Local results from the State issues were:

Question 1: People's Veto
Do you want to reject the new law that would protect people from discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit based on their sexual orientation? Gray 1,124 yes and 1,207 no. New Gloucester: 831 yes and 842 no.

Question 2: Bond Issue
Do you favor a $33,100,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges; airports; public transit improvements; state-owned ferry vessels and ferry and port facilities including port and harbor structures; and statewide bicycle trail and pedestrian improvements that makes the State eligible for over $158,000,000 in matching funds? Gray: 1,525 yes, 789 no. NG: 1,002 yes, 659 no.

Question 3: Bond Issue
Do you favor an $8,900,000 bond issue for purposes related to agriculture and the environment in anticipation of approximately $31,000,000 in federal funds to be used for sustainable water sources and irrigation system development, loans from a wastewater state revolving fund, grants from a small community grants program, support of public water system improvements and repairs and improvements to a veterinary technician facility at the University of Maine? Gray:1,298 yes, 1,005 no. NG: 867 yes, 791 no.

Question 4: Bond Issue
Do you favor a $20,000,000 bond issue to stimulate economic growth and job creation through investments in the Maine economy in anticipation of approximately $44,000,000 in federal and private funds for medical research and development; marine research and development; equity investments in small Maine companies with potential for high growth; the New Century Community Program for capital improvements to cultural resources; the renovation of Camden Hall on the University of Maine Bangor campus for a graduate school for biomedical science; the development of the Laboratory for Surface Science Technology; capital costs and equipment for the career center facility at the University of Southern Maine's Lewiston-Auburn College; and the development of the Sunrise Business and Career Center in the Town of Jonesboro? Gray: 1,279 yes, 1,023 no. NG: 886 yes, 769 no.

Question 5: Bond Issue
Do you favor a $12,000,000 bond issue to purchase land and conservation easements statewide from willing sellers for conservation, water access, wildlife and fish habitat, outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, farmland preservation and working waterfront preservation to be matched by at least $7,000,000 in private and public contributions? Gray: 1,494 yes, 817 no. NG: 1,053 yes, 606 no.

Question 6: Bond Issue
Do you favor a $9,000,000 bond issue to make building renovations at campuses of the University of Maine System, improve and expand the facilities of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine and make building renovations at campuses of the Maine Community College System? Gray: 1,122 yes, 1,159 no. NG: 751 yes, 871 no.

Question 7: Constitutional Amendment
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to permit the Legislature to authorize waterfront land used for commercial fishing activities to be assessed based on the land's current use in a manner similar to treatment now available for farms, open space and forestland? Gray: 1,683 yes, 583 no. NG: 1,158 yes, 439 no.