By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

Kennebunk Selectmen, along with the budget board reviewed budget items including funding open space initiatives, trolley service and police department budget, but were unsure how much money was added to the originally proposed $6.8 million municipal budget for fiscal year 2009-2010.

Finance Director Joel Downs said, as of press time, he did not have a definitive increase to the budget calculated and said he expected further discussion and clarification to occur during the continuation of the March 24 meeting Tuesday, after The Post deadline.

As proposed, the budget was flat funded based on an estimated decline in revenue and the proposed reorganization of town departments. Selectmen Chairman Wayne Berry prompted discussion with the board regarding whether or not they are in favor of the “idea of a net zero percent increase in the budget.” 

“I think it’s great for us to work on a flat budget, but it’s up to the town,” Selectman Dan Boothby said. 

“I’m afraid of setting this artificial limit. We’ve done our job going through [the proposed budget] and should consider it on merits not this artificial net zero,” Selectman Tom Wellman said. 

“It’s responsible for us to present the best budget we can and to avoid every tax increase. I mean to be as frugal as I can be,” Selectman Al Searles said. 

Budget Board Chairman David Spofford said board members already discussed the idea and were in favor of a flat funded budget. Selectmen Boothby, Berry and Wellman voted against the flat funding, while Searles and Selectman Bob Higgins were in favor of the zero percent net increase.

Downs estimated an additional $70,000 decrease in revenue based on building permit projections and reduced income. With additional income of $50,000 reimbursed from the school district for their resource officer that had been over looked, the estimated net change to revenue for fiscal year 2009-2010 is $20,000 less than the $3.1 million originally proposed, Downs said.

Discussing two warrants proposed by the Open Space Implementation Committee, Downs said he averaged previous penalties for removing land from tree growth areas to calculate the proposed $20,000 in miscellaneous revenue. Since the penalties are not consistent, Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said it was only a “guess.”

Selectmen approved the warrant 3 to 2, with Boothby, Berry and Wellman in favor of a warrant article asking residents if the town should send penalties to a non-lapsing account for open space. Opposed to the original article, the budget board unanimously approved a modified version in which proposed fines up to $30,000 will remain in the general fund, fines between $30,000 and $50,000 will be appropriated to the open space account and anything in excess of $50,000 will also enter the general fund as miscellaneous revenue. Residents will decide where the funds will be directed.

Selectmen unanimously approved sending the second article that proposes appropriating $50,000 into a non-lapsing account for open space to a referendum vote in June.

If approved, the funds will increase the mil rate nearly 3 cents per $1,000 of valuation.

On the budget board, John Costin and Susan Davis voted in favor of the referendum, Chairman David Spofford, Bill Ward, John Walker and Ted Axelsen were opposed, but the article will still go to referendum.

“I’m in favor of open space, but not of putting an additional $50,000 in the budget,” Spofford said. 

A referendum vote requesting $16,000 to fund the trolley system will also be up to the voters to decide.

“My thoughts are similar to the previous articles. It should be decided by the voters,” Wellman said. 

With two grants before the board to help fund the police and fire departments, Police Chief Bob Mackenzie recommended maintaining funding for an additional officer, bring the force to 21 positions, regardless if the department receives a grant, which will fund 5,500 positions across the country. 

Residents John and Judie Martel, victims of a home invasion in January, spoke in favor of the additional position in the department. 

“It was more than just a break in, it was bad until these professionals came in,” John Martel said.

“This is a wonderful force. I never could have dreamed of this type of invasion. They should have as many officers as they need,” Judie Martel said. “They stayed with us and calmed us down.”

Despite the Martel’s testimony, Boothby, Berry and Wellman voted not to fund the additional position and Searles and Higgins were opposed. The proposed $60,000 for an officer’s salary was broken down so $20,000 would remain in the department for overtime expenses while $40,000 will be dedicated toward matching the Fire Safer Grant to fund recruitment, retention and two full-time positions in the fire department, which the town will most likely receive. 

Needing more information on whether or not Kennebunkport would fund their portion of the youth services director’s salary, they postponed further discussion until Tuesday, after The Post deadline. The board was also expected to discuss Tibbett’s proposed community planning economic director position.

Editor's note: This story was updated April 3 with results of the March 31 meeting. 

During the continuation of the March 24 meeting, Tuesday, March 31, Kennebunk Selectmen and budget board decided not to fund the youth services position or the proposed Community Planning and Economic Development Director.

In a recalculation of the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget, Finance Director Joel Downs said the proposed budget is $75,573 over the net zero budget, or about 1.1 percent increase from the current budget. Downs said if voters did not pass referendums to fund the trolley system or open space funding in June, that would bring the budget back down to a flat funded budget.

Public hearings to discuss warrant articles for June town meeting are scheduled for 6 p.m. April 14.