Hey, get up and go vote
This Saturday the polls are open here in York, with plenty to vote for or against.
In prior issues we have provided voters with profiles of candidates (never a dull moment there), and specific reports on the major warrant articles. We hope that this information has been helpful to you, the voter. But in any case, we hope you get out there and vote.
From here, among the items that we believe deserve support, or at least careful consideration, are the following.
General operating budgets for the town, schools, police and fire departments and library have all come in with the support of the Budget Committee and the Board of Selectmen or School Committee. This support is indicative of the realistic planning and compromise that has gone into each of these budgets. It takes money to run a town and these budgets should be supported.
Article 11 in support of a contract with the York Ambulance Association. The demand for ambulance service in York exceeds the capacity of the volunteer and donation structure currently in place. The town proposes a one-year contract with the Ambulance Association for $40,000 to help offset those costs. This is a bargain for the town and its residents, and worth every penny it would add to your tax bill. (Honestly, it would only be pennies.)
Article 9 in support of a replacement boat for the harbor master. We have a harbor. We have a harbor master. This harbor master ought, we think, to have a boat. The old one, purchased in 1978, sank. The proposed 21-foot Whaler seems a reasonable solution.
Article 24 in support of a sidewalk on Woodbridge Road. Well, it's about time for this one! Let's put this in place before the inevitable accident happens here.
Articles 27 through 32 in support of drainage and culvert repair. Remember Mother's Day last year? When half of us were underwater? Enough said, we hope. Vote yes.
Article 72 in support of the construction of bleachers and a broadcast booth at York High School. The old bleachers and booth were a hazard and had to be torn down. Your editor watched a guest from another town step through the rotten wood of the old bleachers last fall. Yikes. The $200,000 for this reconstruction will come from the existing fund balance and will not require the raising of additional taxes. An easy yes vote here.
Articles 74 and 75 in support of a capital improvement project and grant match for drainage construction improvements in York Beach. Do we need to mention Mother's Day 2006 again? No? Good. Vote yes here, too.
General Referendum Article 8 in support of an expanded surf zone. Not what it could have been and not what it should have been. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction. Surfers are here to stay, and they are, by a large majority, a pretty good group of young and old. Vote yes here.
Article 73 in support of the construction of a new town hall. These big construction deals are always a mess, and we understand that some voters question whether the size of the one proposed is really justified. At the same time, the need to address this problem is long overdue, and other problems keep stacking up behind it (really, our police do need a new station) that only grow more expensive the longer we delay. As a rule, the price for these projects never comes down by continual waiting and postponing. From our view, then, we support appropriating the funds now, and put it to the incoming Board of Selectmen to lay a critical eye on this one as it passes into reality.
