Fwd: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

[stil...@aol.com]

At the suggestion of Lisa Preney, FYI I'm forwarding Tony Payne's responses to my questions to him on the ballot questions.

Bruce Stillings

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Payne <tpa...@clarkinsurance.com>
To: Bruce Stillings <stil...@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, May 21, 2013 10:24 pm
Subject: Re: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

Absolutely. Thank you for asking, though.

Tony Payne

Business Development Director

Clark Insurance

Tpa...@clarkinsurance.com

On May 21, 2013, at 10:19 PM, "Bruce Stillings" <stil...@aol.com> wrote:

Tony, is it OK to share your explanations with others?

Bruce

Sent from my iPhone

On May 20, 2013, at 9:36 AM, Tony Payne <tpa...@clarkinsurance.com> wrote:

Hi, Bruce. Good questions. Here are my thoughts.

 

1)      Route One: We haven’t quantified the business community’s view of the project. However, we held three briefing sessions that had 10-15 businesses at each meeting. In addition, the staff went directly to property owners whose entrances or property would be changed as a result of curb cuts or mitigating storm water run-off. In all those encounters, the only objections that have been raised were about the location of landscaped medians with raised curbs. With those comments in hand, we modified the plan substantially to reduce the number and size of medians as well as the design of the curbing where they would exist (pedestrian cross walks). Other than that, I haven’t heard any objections and most of the comments have been very positive – particularly about burying the power lines.

As for traffic movement, I have shared your concern that redesigning the corridor would impede traffic flow. The engineers, however, indicated that coordinating traffic signals and minimizing left-hand turns will keep the flow steady though probably at a marginally slower pace. The use of medians also will minimize what are known as “suicide lanes” – when someone ignores arrows in the center lane trying to pass slower traffic and runs into vehicles using the lane as intended for a left hand turn. It doesn’t happen often but with the kind of fender benders often experienced where travel routes are confusing, this design reduces the risk.

There will be some disruption for businesses during construction but I don’t believe it will prolonged. When they get to the phase in which construction specs are set, the planners also will address how to minimize disruption. Gratefully, if the project is approved, nothing of this magnitude will occur for a few more decades.

 

2)      School budget: By either statute or charter, the town council may only rule on the entirety of a proposed school budget. Budget creation is the purview of the school board. With that in mind, the school committee created a budget that had to anticipate picking up the possible cost of funding teacher retirement and cuts in state aid to education. Knowing that this budget had to be padded for those eventualities, I asked their budget committee chair to clarify the disposition of the extra money if the state made few if any changes. He said it would not be allocated to anything else. My assumption that anything left over would go toward reducing the school budget the following year.  I suggest you contact the candidates for school board as well as those not up for election to get their thinking on the matter. Andrew Kinley is the finance committee chair (aki...@falmouthschools.org). Click here for email addresses for the others.

Having reviewed their budgets for the past six years, I have been satisfied that the school board and administration have done a good job juggling priorities and meeting state mandates such as special education requirements. Also, Falmouth’s reputation as a top-performing school system has attracted new families bringing higher than anticipated numbers of students than projected. To maintain their student-to-teacher ratios and fulfill their state mandates, staffing has had to be adjusted.

Keep in mind, though, the biggest issue facing the next school board and council will be the negotiation of the teachers’ contract. Salaries and health insurance are the top two line-items in the budget. One of the most important steps the schools can take, from my perspective, is to put their health insurance program out to bid which I believe is their intention. They have taken a leadership role in getting legislation passed to break the monopoly of the teachers’ union on health care insurance and have estimated the cost savings could be as high as $300,000 per year.

 

3)      Ballot Question 4: The money realized from the sale of the elementary schools comes to the town side of the budget rather than to the school side. Future councils will have to determine how best to use that money. My assumption will be that the long list of capital projects facing the town will benefit from the proceeds of the sale. For example, we have to replace the bridge that goes over the railroad tracks to River Point out by Hannaford. The land is part of our open space program and will be rendered inaccessible if we don’t replace the bridge. Another example is the trail that goes from the schools through the woods to Community Park. Since passenger rail service has been restored to Brunswick, that line will now have a lot of traffic going back and forth. We have to provide for the safety of students with some kind of crossing (even if the kids choose to ignore it). Finally, it is unknown if the state will continue to fund road improvements such as those we paid for along Falmouth Road. Though several roads in town are the obligation of the state, they can ignore their maintenance responsibilities leaving towns to make a choice to fund the upkeep.

 

I’ve copied Nathan Poore and Barbara Powers who have done a great job with this balancing act called government. His position as town manager and hers as superintendent reminds me of the Ed Sullivan Show guest who did the stunt of getting and maintaining 8 or 9 plates spinning at the same time atop a row of rods never letting any fall because he knew the extent of his ability to keep them aloft. We’re fortunate to have two of the best people in their profession working for us in Falmouth to keep the plates spinning.

 

Thanks again for your questions and I’ll look forward to seeing the outcome of all these ballot questions. - Tony

 

<image004.jpg>

 

Tony Payne | Business Development Director

Clark Insurance | 2385 Congress St

PO Box 3543 | Portland ME 04104-3543

Tel: 207.523.2213 | Fax: 207.774.2994

Cell: 207.807.5331

<image003.jpg>

www.clarkinsurance.com

Visit me on Linked In

 

TO THE RECIPIENT:  Information contained in this message is CONFIDENTIAL, proprietary, and/or protected by copyright.  If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this communication in error, please notify Clark Insurance by calling (207) 774-6257, or by forwarding this message and attachments (if any) to in...@clarkinsurance.com.  You are further requested to help us protect the privacy of our customers and business partners by deleting all copies of this communication from your equipment and files.  Thank you.

 

From: stil...@aol.com [mailto:stil...@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 10:57 AM
To: tpa...@maine.rr.com
Subject: Re: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

 

Tony, thanks for your helpful update. We're going to miss you! I have a few questions with which you can help.
1. We really haven't heard whether there's  a consensus from business owners for the Rt 1 project. Is there any quantitative info on where merchants stand? One's I've talked with indicate that traffic will be slowed, more congested and many motorists will go around Rt 1 resulting in a loss of business. Also, what about the disruption during construction and impact on business? It will likely impact merchants.
2. Regarding the school budget, in times of tight finances why were new positions (3?) allowed in the budget? Also, doesn't the school budget assume that funding from the state will be cut or severly reduced? If state money is restored (which seems likely) and 3 new positions eliminated, wouldn't this eliminated the need for increased taxes?
3. Re question 4, why not use money from the sale of schools to Oceanview to pay for Middle School renovation? Think the net amount was around $3 million (maybe less), which could be used at least to offset much of the $3.25 million renovation costs.

Thanks for "listening" and look forward to hearing from you!

Bruce

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Payne <tpa...@maine.rr.com>
To: stillings <stil...@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, May 17, 2013 10:12 am
Subject: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

May 17, 2013 Information & Feedback Request From Tony Payne Falmouth Town Councilor    Town Resources As residents of Falmouth, you have access to a wide variety of services, programs and amenities. Please take a moment to visit the town web site or any of the following topical areas:   Parks & Public Works Dept Transfer Station hours Tues: noon-4pm Thurs: noon-4pm Fri: 7am - 5pm Sat: 9am - 5pm  Town Clerk Assessing & Data Police Dept Fire / EMS Dept  Maps of trails, parks and public lands Town Landing & Harbor Community Programs Falmouth Schools   Phone for Business Hours Town Hall: 781-5253 Police: 781-2300 Fire/EMS: 781-2610 Public Works: 781-3919     Explanation of Question One    Absentee Ballots Are Now Available   In addition to choosing two new school board members and three town councilors, there are five ballot questions for you to consider in the municipal elections. To see a sample ballot, click here.   QUESTION ONE is about Route One improvements. An explanation of the proposal will be mailed to all residents in Falmouth in the coming days but here is a preview.

[Bryan Dench]

Thank you, Bruce. I am voting against the Route One project and against the school budget.  Last year the school budget went up more than 5% as I recall with assurances that was not going to happen again.  Here we are.  The spending is simply out of control and I don't see any evidence of the kind of fiscal discipline Tony sees.  Furthermore, last year Barbara Powers told me that she hoped to use the Ocean View cash to repair the school, just as you said, because it is very logical to use one capital source to pay for a capital cost.  Now all of a sudden we are going to bond it, increasing the cost.  Why?  I think it's because the "community center" crowd wants all the Ocean View cash used for that so they can falsely claim it won't cost anything or not as much.

 

The route One project is not necessary and will interfere with business. Does anyone seriously believe that investors will build buildings at curbside with apartments upstairs?  How ridiculous.  This is another classic case of planning "experts" telling everyone else how to live and invest their capital and that simply never works.

 

Kindest regards,

Bryan

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[David Murray]

Brian/Bruce:

 

Tony is a bit off the mark as to the influence the Council has (or doesn’t have) over the school budget.  While the charter vests administrative decisions and preparation of the budget in the School Board, the council retains “power of the purse” and is clearly the superior body. Their job is to look out for the tax payers and impose some discipline on the School Board that as a practical matter will always see itself as an advocate for the schools. The notion that the Council can not directly address what it sees as issues with the school budget and make it clear that it’s budget approval is contingent on certain decisions or policies to be made or adopted by the School Board ( or any other thing that suits the Council)  is a clear violation of common sense.  I served on the Charter review commission in the 1990’s when I was on the Council and I recall we questioned outside counsel closely on this point and I think we got a legal opinion as well.

 

You may or may not recall that during the early 1990’s the Council voted annually, early in each year, that as a matter of policy the School Board was obliged to provide a budget such that the cost per pupil would not increase more than the rate of inflation each year.  Grant McGiffin, the then superintendent was annually apoplectic ( “How can I give teachers raises under that constraint—horrors!”) but the Council unanimously supported that position for years (It was bipartisan – imagine that!) and the School Board reluctantly complied.  Recent years have seen the Council showing a far more passive posture and cloaking it in this nonsense about statutory restrictions.   

 

As salaries are some 75% of the School budget, the upcoming contract negotiations are most important. In my 30+ years as a resident I’ve never heard the teachers or the MTA squeal that we were being unreasonable which suggests to me that we just aren’t trying very hard.  I keep hearing that we have to pay up to get and retain the “best” teachers to give our kids the “best” education. Nonsense.  One of the interesting things to come out of the flap over the state issuing letter grades is the insistence by the MTA that its all about demographics—the teachers are all good and can’t be held accountable.  That certainly gives rise to an argument that Falmouth need not pay for exceptional teachers ( assuming of course the ones we have are exceptional - my three Falmouth educated kids might differ on that) since our success is all due to demographics.     

 

I heard once that we get over 100 resumes from qualified teachers for every opening.  How bad would it be if we pushed our compensation scales closer to the “average” so maybe we got only 50?

 

Keep up the fight

 

David

 

 

 

 From: stil...@aol.com

Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 11:17 AM

To: falmouth-citizens...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Falmouth Citizens for Sound Choices Fwd: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

 

Thanks for your note, Bryan. Any suggestions on how to mobilize voters on these issues?
Bruce

 

BTW, I understand you handled the tower contract for my sister & brother-in-law, Shirley & Maurice Keene. Small world!

 

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mailto:falmouth-citizens-for-sound-choices%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com.

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[Thomas Fahey]

I am in full agreement with Bryan. I too will be voting against both the Route One project as well as the school budget. Bryan is fully correct in saying that it was said that last years school budget increase was not going to happen again......yet it is. From my perspective Bryan is correct that there is little or no effort to control or fine line spending within the school budget. Sadly 'Bobble Heads' always just bobble when the increased budget comes along, and no one argues it...... To me the time has come to put the breaks on and send the message that this is not going to cut it anymore. A large portion of the town is made up of retired and elderly folks who are seriously being taxed out of their homes......that is just not right!

The Route one project is almost laughable. Falmouth Shopping Center has had vacant space for ages......this would tell the reasonably prudent person that businesses are not banging on the door to come to Falmouth. To alter route one as proposed will restrict traffic and will drive it to route 88 and likely middle road. (What will future costs be to make accommodations to deal with that? )

The envisioned thought that there will be upstairs apartments, a walking place, and a vibrant main street community setting on route one is ridiculous! If passed the plan will cause taxpayers much money and regret in the future....let's not allow that to happen.

The taxpayers have to take back control of Falmouth.

Tom

�
On 5/23/2013 11:07 AM, Bryan Dench wrote:

Thank you, Bruce. I am voting against the Route One project and against the school budget.� Last year the school budget went up more than 5% as I recall with assurances that was not going to happen again.� Here we are.� The spending is simply out of control and I don't see any evidence of the kind of fiscal discipline Tony sees.� Furthermore, last year Barbara Powers told me that she hoped to use the Ocean View cash to repair the school, just as you said, because it is very logical to use one capital source to pay for a capital cost.� Now all of a sudden we are going to bond it, increasing the cost.� Why?� I think it's because the "community center" crowd wants all the Ocean View cash used for that so they can falsely claim it won't cost anything or not as much.

�

The route One project is not necessary and will interfere with business. Does anyone seriously believe that investors will build buildings at curbside with apartments upstairs?� How ridiculous.� This is another classic case of planning "experts" telling everyone else how to live and invest their capital and that simply never works.

�

Kindest regards,

Bryan

On Thu, May 23, 2013 at 10:59 AM, <stil...@aol.com> wrote:

At the suggestion of Lisa Preney, FYI I'm forwarding Tony Payne's responses to my questions to him on the ballot questions.

Bruce Stillings

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Payne <tpa...@clarkinsurance.com>
To: Bruce Stillings <stil...@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, May 21, 2013 10:24 pm
Subject: Re: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

Absolutely. Thank you for asking, though.

Tony Payne

Business Development Director

Clark Insurance

Tpa...@clarkinsurance.com

On May 21, 2013, at 10:19 PM, "Bruce Stillings" <stil...@aol.com> wrote:

Tony, is it OK to share your explanations with others?

Bruce

Sent from my iPhone

On May 20, 2013, at 9:36 AM, Tony Payne <tpa...@clarkinsurance.com> wrote:

Hi, Bruce. Good questions. Here are my thoughts.

�

1)����� Route One: We haven�t quantified the business community�s view of the project. However, we held three briefing sessions that had 10-15 businesses at each meeting. In addition, the staff went directly to property owners whose entrances or property would be changed as a result of curb cuts or mitigating storm water run-off. In all those encounters, the only objections that have been raised were about the location of landscaped medians with raised curbs. With those comments in hand, we modified the plan substantially to reduce the number and size of medians as well as the design of the curbing where they would exist (pedestrian cross walks). Other than that, I haven�t heard any objections and most of the comments have been very positive � particularly about burying the power lines.

As for traffic movement, I have shared your concern that redesigning the corridor would impede traffic flow. The engineers, however, indicated that coordinating traffic signals and minimizing left-hand turns will keep the flow steady though probably at a marginally slower pace. The use of medians also will minimize what are known as �suicide lanes� � when someone ignores arrows in the center lane trying to pass slower traffic and runs into vehicles using the lane as intended for a left hand turn. It doesn�t happen often but with the kind of fender benders often experienced where travel routes are confusing, this design reduces the risk.

There will be some disruption for businesses during construction but I don�t believe it will prolonged. When they get to the phase in which construction specs are set, the planners also will address how to minimize disruption. Gratefully, if the project is approved, nothing of this magnitude will occur for a few more decades.

�

2)����� School budget: By either statute or charter, the town council may only rule on the entirety of a proposed school budget. Budget creation is the purview of the school board. With that in mind, the school committee created a budget that had to anticipate picking up the possible cost of funding teacher retirement and cuts in state aid to education. Knowing that this budget had to be padded for those eventualities, I asked their budget committee chair to clarify the disposition of the extra money if the state made few if any changes. He said it would not be allocated to anything else. My assumption that anything left over would go toward reducing the school budget the following year. �I suggest you contact the candidates for school board as well as those not up for election to get their thinking on the matter. Andrew Kinley is the finance committee chair (aki...@falmouthschools.org). Click here for email addresses for the others.

Having reviewed their budgets for the past six years, I have been satisfied that the school board and administration have done a good job juggling priorities and meeting state mandates such as special education requirements. Also, Falmouth�s reputation as a top-performing school system has attracted new families bringing higher than anticipated numbers of students than projected. To maintain their student-to-teacher ratios and fulfill their state mandates, staffing has had to be adjusted.

Keep in mind, though, the biggest issue facing the next school board and council will be the negotiation of the teachers� contract. Salaries and health insurance are the top two line-items in the budget. One of the most important steps the schools can take, from my perspective, is to put their health insurance program out to bid which I believe is their intention. They have taken a leadership role in getting legislation passed to break the monopoly of the teachers� union on health care insurance and have estimated the cost savings could be as high as $300,000 per year.

�

3)����� Ballot Question 4: The money realized from the sale of the elementary schools comes to the town side of the budget rather than to the school side. Future councils will have to determine how best to use that money. My assumption will be that the long list of capital projects facing the town will benefit from the proceeds of the sale. For example, we have to replace the bridge that goes over the railroad tracks to River Point out by Hannaford. The land is part of our open space program and will be rendered inaccessible if we don�t replace the bridge. Another example is the trail that goes from the schools through the woods to Community Park. Since passenger rail service has been restored to Brunswick, that line will now have a lot of traffic going back and forth. We have to provide for the safety of students with some kind of crossing (even if the kids choose to ignore it). Finally, it is unknown if the state will continue to fund road improvements such as those we paid for along Falmouth Road. Though several roads in town are the obligation of the state, they can ignore their maintenance responsibilities leaving towns to make a choice to fund the upkeep.

�

I�ve copied Nathan Poore and Barbara Powers who have done a great job with this balancing act called government. His position as town manager and hers as superintendent reminds me of the Ed Sullivan Show guest who did the stunt of getting and maintaining 8 or 9 plates spinning at the same time atop a row of rods never letting any fall because he knew the extent of his ability to keep them aloft. We�re fortunate to have two of the best people in their profession working for us in Falmouth to keep the plates spinning.

�

Thanks again for your questions and I�ll look forward to seeing the outcome of all these ballot questions. - Tony

�

<image004.jpg>

�

Tony Payne |�Business Development Director

Clark Insurance | 2385 Congress St

PO Box 3543 | Portland ME 04104-3543

Tel:�207.523.2213 |�Fax: 207.774.2994

Cell: 207.807.5331

<image003.jpg>

www.clarkinsurance.com

Visit me on Linked In

�

TO THE RECIPIENT:� Information contained in this message is CONFIDENTIAL, proprietary, and/or protected by copyright.� If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.� If you have received this communication in error, please notify Clark Insurance by calling (207) 774-6257, or by forwarding this message and attachments (if any) to in...@clarkinsurance.com.� You are further requested to help us protect the privacy of our customers and business partners by deleting all copies of this communication from your equipment and files.� Thank you.

�

From: stil...@aol.com [mailto:stil...@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 10:57 AM
To: tpa...@maine.rr.com
Subject: Re: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

�

Tony, thanks for your helpful update. We're going to miss you! I have a few questions with which you can help.

1. We really haven't heard whether there's� a consensus from business owners for the Rt 1 project. Is there any quantitative info on where merchants stand? One's I've talked with indicate that traffic will be slowed, more congested and many motorists will go around Rt 1 resulting in a loss of business. Also, what about the disruption during construction and impact on business? It will likely impact merchants.

2. Regarding the school budget, in times of tight finances why were new positions (3?) allowed in the budget? Also, doesn't the school budget assume that funding from the state will be cut or severly reduced? If state money is restored (which seems likely) and 3 new positions eliminated, wouldn't this eliminated the need for increased taxes?
3. Re question 4, why not use money from the sale of schools to Oceanview to pay for Middle School renovation? Think the net amount was around $3 million (maybe less), which could be used at least to offset much of the $3.25 million renovation costs.

Thanks for "listening" and look forward to hearing from you!

Bruce

�

�

�

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Payne <tpa...@maine.rr.com>
To: stillings <stil...@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, May 17, 2013 10:12 am
Subject: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

May 17, 2013

Information & Feedback Request From Tony Payne

Falmouth Town Councilor� � � Town Resources

As residents of Falmouth, you have access to a wide variety of services, programs and amenities. Please take a moment to visit the town web site or any of the following topical areas:

�

Parks & Public Works Dept Transfer Station hours Tues: noon-4pm Thurs: noon-4pm Fri: 7am - 5pm Sat: 9am - 5pm

�Town Clerk

Assessing & Data Police Dept

Fire / EMS Dept�

Maps of trails, parks and public lands Town Landing & Harbor Community Programs Falmouth Schools

�

Phone for Business Hours Town Hall: 781-5253 Police: 781-2300 Fire/EMS: 781-2610 Public Works: 781-3919

� � Explanation of Question One ��

Absentee Ballots Are Now Available

�

In addition to choosing two new school board members and three town councilors, there are five ballot questions for you to consider in the municipal elections. To see a sample ballot, click here.

� QUESTION ONE is about Route One improvements. An explanation of the proposal will be mailed to all residents in Falmouth in the coming days but here is a preview.�

--
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To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to falmouth-citizens-for-s...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

�
�

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�
�

[David Murray]

I will be voting against the Route 1 issue too but unfortunately the zoning amendments are not subject to the referendum although if it were to fail it might give the council pause, although I doubt it.

 

From: Thomas Fahey

Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 9:09 PM

To: falmouth-citizens...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Falmouth Citizens for Sound Choices Fwd: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

 

I am in full agreement with Bryan. I too will be voting against both the Route One project as well as the school budget. Bryan is fully correct in saying that it was said that last years school budget increase was not going to happen again......yet it is. From my perspective Bryan is correct that there is little or no effort to control or fine line spending within the school budget. Sadly 'Bobble Heads' always just bobble when the increased budget comes along, and no one argues it...... To me the time has come to put the breaks on and send the message that this is not going to cut it anymore. A large portion of the town is made up of retired and elderly folks who are seriously being taxed out of their homes......that is just not right!

The Route one project is almost laughable. Falmouth Shopping Center has had vacant space for ages......this would tell the reasonably prudent person that businesses are not banging on the door to come to Falmouth. To alter route one as proposed will restrict traffic and will drive it to route 88 and likely middle road. (What will future costs be to make accommodations to deal with that? )

The envisioned thought that there will be upstairs apartments, a walking place, and a vibrant main street community setting on route one is ridiculous! If passed the plan will cause taxpayers much money and regret in the future....let's not allow that to happen.

The taxpayers have to take back control of Falmouth.

Tom

 

On 5/23/2013 11:07 AM, Bryan Dench wrote:

Thank you, Bruce. I am voting against the Route One project and against the school budget.  Last year the school budget went up more than 5% as I recall with assurances that was not going to happen again.  Here we are.  The spending is simply out of control and I don't see any evidence of the kind of fiscal discipline Tony sees.  Furthermore, last year Barbara Powers told me that she hoped to use the Ocean View cash to repair the school, just as you said, because it is very logical to use one capital source to pay for a capital cost.  Now all of a sudden we are going to bond it, increasing the cost.  Why?  I think it's because the "community center" crowd wants all the Ocean View cash used for that so they can falsely claim it won't cost anything or not as much.

 

The route One project is not necessary and will interfere with business. Does anyone seriously believe that investors will build buildings at curbside with apartments upstairs?  How ridiculous.  This is another classic case of planning "experts" telling everyone else how to live and invest their capital and that simply never works.

 

Kindest regards,

Bryan

On Thu, May 23, 2013 at 10:59 AM, <stil...@aol.com> wrote:

At the suggestion of Lisa Preney, FYI I'm forwarding Tony Payne's responses to my questions to him on the ballot questions.

Bruce Stillings

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Payne <tpa...@clarkinsurance.com>
To: Bruce Stillings <stil...@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, May 21, 2013 10:24 pm
Subject: Re: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

Absolutely. Thank you for asking, though.

Tony Payne

Business Development Director

Clark Insurance

Tpa...@clarkinsurance.com

 

On May 21, 2013, at 10:19 PM, "Bruce Stillings" <stil...@aol.com> wrote:

Tony, is it OK to share your explanations with others?

Bruce

Sent from my iPhone

On May 20, 2013, at 9:36 AM, Tony Payne <tpa...@clarkinsurance.com> wrote:

Hi, Bruce. Good questions. Here are my thoughts.

 

1)      Route One: We haven’t quantified the business community’s view of the project. However, we held three briefing sessions that had 10-15 businesses at each meeting. In addition, the staff went directly to property owners whose entrances or property would be changed as a result of curb cuts or mitigating storm water run-off. In all those encounters, the only objections that have been raised were about the location of landscaped medians with raised curbs. With those comments in hand, we modified the plan substantially to reduce the number and size of medians as well as the design of the curbing where they would exist (pedestrian cross walks). Other than that, I haven’t heard any objections and most of the comments have been very positive – particularly about burying the power lines.

As for traffic movement, I have shared your concern that redesigning the corridor would impede traffic flow. The engineers, however, indicated that coordinating traffic signals and minimizing left-hand turns will keep the flow steady though probably at a marginally slower pace. The use of medians also will minimize what are known as “suicide lanes” – when someone ignores arrows in the center lane trying to pass slower traffic and runs into vehicles using the lane as intended for a left hand turn. It doesn’t happen often but with the kind of fender benders often experienced where travel routes are confusing, this design reduces the risk.

There will be some disruption for businesses during construction but I don’t believe it will prolonged. When they get to the phase in which construction specs are set, the planners also will address how to minimize disruption. Gratefully, if the project is approved, nothing of this magnitude will occur for a few more decades.

 

2)      School budget: By either statute or charter, the town council may only rule on the entirety of a proposed school budget. Budget creation is the purview of the school board. With that in mind, the school committee created a budget that had to anticipate picking up the possible cost of funding teacher retirement and cuts in state aid to education. Knowing that this budget had to be padded for those eventualities, I asked their budget committee chair to clarify the disposition of the extra money if the state made few if any changes. He said it would not be allocated to anything else. My assumption that anything left over would go toward reducing the school budget the following year.  I suggest you contact the candidates for school board as well as those not up for election to get their thinking on the matter. Andrew Kinley is the finance committee chair (aki...@falmouthschools.org). Click here for email addresses for the others.

Having reviewed their budgets for the past six years, I have been satisfied that the school board and administration have done a good job juggling priorities and meeting state mandates such as special education requirements. Also, Falmouth’s reputation as a top-performing school system has attracted new families bringing higher than anticipated numbers of students than projected. To maintain their student-to-teacher ratios and fulfill their state mandates, staffing has had to be adjusted.

Keep in mind, though, the biggest issue facing the next school board and council will be the negotiation of the teachers’ contract. Salaries and health insurance are the top two line-items in the budget. One of the most important steps the schools can take, from my perspective, is to put their health insurance program out to bid which I believe is their intention. They have taken a leadership role in getting legislation passed to break the monopoly of the teachers’ union on health care insurance and have estimated the cost savings could be as high as $300,000 per year.

 

3)      Ballot Question 4: The money realized from the sale of the elementary schools comes to the town side of the budget rather than to the school side. Future councils will have to determine how best to use that money. My assumption will be that the long list of capital projects facing the town will benefit from the proceeds of the sale. For example, we have to replace the bridge that goes over the railroad tracks to River Point out by Hannaford. The land is part of our open space program and will be rendered inaccessible if we don’t replace the bridge. Another example is the trail that goes from the schools through the woods to Community Park. Since passenger rail service has been restored to Brunswick, that line will now have a lot of traffic going back and forth. We have to provide for the safety of students with some kind of crossing (even if the kids choose to ignore it). Finally, it is unknown if the state will continue to fund road improvements such as those we paid for along Falmouth Road. Though several roads in town are the obligation of the state, they can ignore their maintenance responsibilities leaving towns to make a choice to fund the upkeep.

 

I’ve copied Nathan Poore and Barbara Powers who have done a great job with this balancing act called government. His position as town manager and hers as superintendent reminds me of the Ed Sullivan Show guest who did the stunt of getting and maintaining 8 or 9 plates spinning at the same time atop a row of rods never letting any fall because he knew the extent of his ability to keep them aloft. We’re fortunate to have two of the best people in their profession working for us in Falmouth to keep the plates spinning.

 

Thanks again for your questions and I’ll look forward to seeing the outcome of all these ballot questions. - Tony

 

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Tony Payne | Business Development Director

Clark Insurance | 2385 Congress St

PO Box 3543 | Portland ME 04104-3543

Tel: 207.523.2213 | Fax: 207.774.2994

Cell: 207.807.5331

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www.clarkinsurance.com

Visit me on Linked In

 

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From: stil...@aol.com [mailto:stil...@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 10:57 AM
To: tpa...@maine.rr.com
Subject: Re: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

 

Tony, thanks for your helpful update. We're going to miss you! I have a few questions with which you can help.

1. We really haven't heard whether there's  a consensus from business owners for the Rt 1 project. Is there any quantitative info on where merchants stand? One's I've talked with indicate that traffic will be slowed, more congested and many motorists will go around Rt 1 resulting in a loss of business. Also, what about the disruption during construction and impact on business? It will likely impact merchants.

2. Regarding the school budget, in times of tight finances why were new positions (3?) allowed in the budget? Also, doesn't the school budget assume that funding from the state will be cut or severly reduced? If state money is restored (which seems likely) and 3 new positions eliminated, wouldn't this eliminated the need for increased taxes?
3. Re question 4, why not use money from the sale of schools to Oceanview to pay for Middle School renovation? Think the net amount was around $3 million (maybe less), which could be used at least to offset much of the $3.25 million renovation costs.

Thanks for "listening" and look forward to hearing from you!

Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Payne <tpa...@maine.rr.com>
To: stillings <stil...@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, May 17, 2013 10:12 am
Subject: Falmouth Ballot Question Explanation

May 17, 2013 Information & Feedback Request From Tony Payne Falmouth Town Councilor

Town Resources As residents of Falmouth, you have access to a wide variety of services, programs and amenities. Please take a moment to visit the town web site or any of the following topical areas:

Parks & Public Works Dept Transfer Station hours Tues: noon-4pm Thurs: noon-4pm Fri: 7am - 5pm Sat: 9am - 5pm

Town Clerk Assessing & Data Police Dept Fire / EMS Dept

Maps of trails, parks and public lands Town Landing & Harbor Community Programs Falmouth Schools

Phone for Business Hours Town Hall: 781-5253 Police: 781-2300 Fire/EMS: 781-2610 Public Works: 781-3919

Explanation of Question One

Absentee Ballots Are Now Available

In addition to choosing two new school board members and three town councilors, there are five ballot questions for you to consider in the municipal elections. To see a sample ballot, click here.

QUESTION ONE is about Route One improvements. An explanation of the proposal will be mailed to all residents in Falmouth in the coming days but here is a preview.

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