Ogunquit News
Busy week for Ogunquit town officials
By Melissa Wood
OGUNQUIT - Within the past week the Board of Selectmen appointed Loring DeAgazio as interim town manager and met with the Budget Review Committee to discuss differences on the proposed budget totaling about $70,000.DeAgazio has agreed to take on the position for eight weeks while Town Manager Phil Clark recovers from heart surgery. DeAgazio said Clark is recuperating as well as can be expected.
"We're hoping it may be shorter than that," said DeAgazio. "Phil will come back as soon as he's physically able to."
While serving as town manager, DeAgazio will be stepping down from both the Budget Review Committee and Marginal Way Committee. Monday, Feb. 5, was his first day on the job.
"It'll take some time to get comfortable," he said, but praised the town staff. "I have a lot of people that I can depend on."
Last Friday, Feb. 2, the Board of Selectmen met with the Budget Review Committee to discuss the proposed fiscal 2008 budget. Both groups have made recommendations with a difference of about $70,000. The Budget Review Committee is in favor of the lower amount.
DeAgazio called Friday's meeting a discussion, but said there was no reconciliation at this point.
Their largest difference is whether to include $33,000 in the budget of the Ogunquit Police Department for personnel expenses at the reception window and visitor services. The Budget Review Committee is recommending a level of service at the police station's reception window similar to what they had last year. However, selectmen would like to extend the hours.
Selectmen have also requested an additional position in visitor services that would fill in as relief when other staff are away and would include some time walking on Marginal Way. Staff members mainly service parking lots, collect fees and help with traffic flow.
The other major variance between the selectmen and the Budget Review Committee recommendations is $21,250 in the budget of the Land Use Office for planning. DeAgazio said the rest of the differences were pretty small.
As part of Tuesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting, which was scheduled after press time, selectmen and members of the Budget Review Committee were scheduled to attend to take questions and explain the budget to the public.
The Budget Review Committee must submit its final recommendation by this Friday, Feb. 9, while selectmen have until Feb. 20.
"Everything has to be finalized by the 20th," explained DeAgazio. "That's the last day warrant articles can be approved."
The final budget will be decided at the budget vote in April.
