By Nate Jones

Staff Writer 

The results of last week’s Kennebunk special referendum and selectman are in, and Albert Searles has been elected to the board of selectmen after winning by 18 votes. Nearly 900 residents went to the polls last Thursday to cast their vote for one selectman and the eight referendums also on the ballot, all of which received a positive vote.

Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said Searles was sworn in last Friday after resigning from the budget board, as required by his new position.

“He knows pretty much all the staff anyway,” Tibbetts said. “Having the fifth seat full definitely helps.”

Tibbetts said Searles will play an important role on the board of selectman at future meetings as the fifth member, preventing the board from voting to a tie, as has happened during the vacancy following the resignation of board member June Huston several weeks ago.  

“I think an entire prioritization of the municipal budget is in order,” Searles said, explaining he opposes funding over the state mandated LD-1 budget cap. “I am grateful to those who voted for me.” 

Many of the smaller referendums have already been implemented into the various ordinances they concern, and the town office is proceeding quickly with the expansion of the tax increment financing district (TIF) and the grant application process for the construction of a rear access road to the future health and wellness center, per questions seven and eight, part of Kennebunk’s Comprehenive Plan, Tibbetts said.

The expanded TIF will allow the town access to funds for specific projects including the improvement for Kennebunk’s downtown area, an ongoing goal of the Comprehensive Plan. The new coverage area for the TIF includes the warehouse behind Shoppers Village Plaza scheduled for renovation by Shape Medical, LLC. The Health and Wellness center will serve as an office space for medical research organizations such as the University of Maine, creating low to moderate income level jobs the town use as part of a Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) in efforts to repay the $400,000 grant proposed by question eight.

Tibbetts said the town will send out the CDBG grant application before March 7, and expect to hear back from the office of Community Development within 60 days, at which time the access road project would be able to begin the permitting process. 

“We’ll move ahead and see where we end up,” he said.

To contact Nate Jones call 282-4337 x233 or email news@kennebunkpost.com