Staff Writer

After cutting funding for the youth services coordinator and denying creation of a community planner and economic development director position, the proposed 2009-2010 Kennebunk municipal budgets now stands at $6.9 million, 1.1 percent more than the current budget.

Eliminating Youth Services Coordinator Rachel Phipps’ position in a reconsideration of their original vote came after Kennebunkport Selectmen endorsed Town Manger Larry Mead’s recommendation to eliminate their portion of funding from the municipal budget March 26. 

“I want it written in stone, if we’re funding 100 percent, the position serves only kids from Kennebunk,” Selectman Al Searles said. 

Selectman Bob Higgins questioned why the town should fund a position while Kennebunk and Kennebunkport police departments are applying for a grant to fund a new school resource officer who could essentially take over school-based programs. Kennebunkport Selectmen decided the police and public health departments could absorb the duties, and Higgins said Kennebunk should shift those duties as well.

“The position is in the wrong place. It should be in the school system,” Higgins said adding the schools and police can work together.

With the two towns working together on a grant, Kennebunk Police Chief Bob MacKenzie said money from the grant would fund a school resource officer. 

He said a second officer could run programs for youth services, and Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said the school district is also proposing $50,000 to fund a contract with Day One, an organization to help prevent, intervene and treat students abusing drugs or alcohol.

“That’s just another factor in the overall picture looking at this position,” Tibbetts said. 

“It seems like a duplication of services to me,” Higgins said. 

A motion made by Selectman Tom Wellman to fund the position part-time at $27,600 failed, with Selectman Chairman Wayne Berry, Searles and Higgins opposed. 

In February, selectmen and members of the budget board voted to remove the community planner and economic development director position from the proposed budget, and Tibbetts recommended funding the position with tax increment financing money. Under the parameters of acceptable uses for TIF funds, Tibbetts said the position is an acceptable use.

“I’m not against an economic director, but this year it isn’t a good idea to get the position under TIF then try to make it a full-time position in the budget next year,” Budget Board Chairman David Spofford said. 

 “This is a hard sell here. I’m sitting up here as a recently laid off employee. You can’t find $23,000 to fund my position and you’ve cut 75 percent of social services [for the upcoming budget],” Phipps said. “You said there would be ‘no frills’ for social services. I would call this ambassador for businesses a frill.”

Berry suggested postponing the vote to the April 28 meeting, but Higgins said the board had enough information to make a decision. With Boothby, Searles and Higgins opposed to funding the position with TIF money, the motion failed and proposed position was eliminated. 

Selectmen also approved three warrant articles regarding bonds for capital projects, including improvements to drainage around Main Street, downtown enhancements and extending the sewer line to the southern sections of Route 1. Public hearings are scheduled on the articles at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.