By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

Kennebunkport Town Manager Larry Mead revised his budget proposal to keep a position in the highway department budget and still maintain a flat funded budget. The decisions follow discussion with the town’s budget board and board of selectmen at their March 5 joint meeting.

The cost for reinstating the equipment operator and truck driver position totals $51,414. To make up the difference, Mead proposed removing $46,500 budgeted for the Dyke Road sidewalk project from the capital budget and adding $10,000 to investment income realized after entering a certificate of deposit agreement with Ocean Bank at an interest rate of 1.75 percent. 

Mead said he anticipates having residual money from the current budget set aside for repaving Beechwood Avenue, Arundel Road and Stone Road could fund the sidewalk project on Dyke Road. Lower bids than anticipated from Dayton Sand and Gravel and a reduction in the price of asphalt has led to a drop in overall cost. Mead recommended selectmen approve a warrant article to authorize proceeding with the Dyke Road project subject to funds being available from the repaving project. 

“If it turns out that funds are not available, this [Dyke Road] project would be postponed to the next fiscal year subject to voter approval,” Mead said. 

As Mead read through budget items during the March 26 meeting, there was minimal discussion from selectmen regarding decreases in nearly every department. In a preliminary vote, Selectmen Mike Weston, Sheila Matthews-Bull, Allen Daggett and Chairman Matt Lanigan approved the changes to the proposed budget, including Mead’s recommendation to not fund the town’s portion of Kennebunk’s youth services coordinator position, cutting $23,667 out of the budget. Selectman Kristi Bryant was absent. 

Thursday after The Post deadline, the budget board was expected to continue budget discussions. Further discussion is scheduled during a joint meeting between selectmen and the budget board at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 9.

Proposed Warrant Articles

Selectmen also reviewed seven proposed warrant articles to be voted on during Town Meeting in June. 

Selectmen expressed concerns about the proposed amendment to the land use ordinance pertaining to accessory or in-law apartments. Weston and Matthews-Bull suggested clarifying issues, such as if property owners are required to be full time residents or if they’re allowed to rent the home as well as the accessory apartment. Matthews-Bull said the board should not rush this issue to voters in June. 

“If it’s done for June, then it’s done. If not, it can wait,” Lanigan said.

The other six proposed articles include two suggested by Fire Chief Paul Moshimer. The first would amend the false alarm ordinance to indicate alarms caused by events beyond homeowners’ control are not in violation, but false alarms caused by human error while using home security systems or failure to maintain the system, will be in violation and lead to penalty charges.

The second article would amend the fire code ordinance, clarifying language within the ordinance to reflect the current structure of the department.

Moshimer said the proposed changes are in effort to eliminate ambiguity and clarify expectations for residents compliance to the ordinances. 

Two articles propose amendments to Chapter nine of the Comprehensive Plan regarding land use. The articles change definitions as well as make language corrections to several sections of the to the shoreland zoning portion of the ordinance.

The shellfish committee proposed changes to clarify shellfish and clam wardens are the same person and should be titled Shellfish Conservation Warden, to allow the Shellfish Conservation Committee authority to adjust the weight of clams harvested and to prevent anyone from acquiring a town shellfish license if their state shellfish license is under suspension or they have been convicted of state wildlife statute violations within a 24-month period. 

A proposed article would add a streetlight on Elm Street near the corner of Maine Street.

Mead said the currently dark intersection is busy with both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Adding the streetlight would cost the town $200 annually, he said.