Southport voters overwhelming approved the $1,165,407 school budget which shows a 0.3% increase and $1,342,118 municipal budget – a 6% increase – during the March 6 town meeting. Residents passed 63 of 65 warrant articles. The only warrants which failed to receive voter approval were “skipped over” without any discussion. 

During the two-hour meeting, residents didn’t question many of the articles, but three resulted in considerable debate. In successive articles, selectmen proposed changing the tax collector, treasurer and town clerk from an elected to an appointed position. Selectmen Smith Climo explained the board believed finding future qualified municipal officers would be difficult without offering a benefits package. Resident John Lunt opposed the proposal.  “I don’t think this is right time to relinquish our voting rights. If the issue is a benefits packages, it should be presented to the town to create a sum of money for these people.” 

Town Clerk Donna Climo supported the proposal. She believed the town would be better served if future municipal officers went through an interview process ensuring they had proper credentials. “I understand you want to preserve your rights to choose. However, anyone can get signatures qualified or not. They aren’t always qualified and capable,” she said. 

Residents approved changing the tax collector, town clerk and treasurer’s positions from elected to appointed with a strong majority. Another article didn’t receive much debate, but a had lengthy explanation. Selectman Gerry Gamage explained how the year-round water to the town hall project had changed. In recent years, the town had appropriated $100,133 for the project. This was a joint-project with the Maine Department of Transportation which called for the water expansion along with improving the town hall’s two entrances on Route 27.  

But Gamage announced MDOT had pulled out of the project so he proposed an alternative use for the money.  He reported if Southport continued with the project, taxpayers would pay the entire estimated $1.25 million cost. Gamage is also a Boothbay Region Water District trustee and recommended a less expensive project. “For  $125,000, we will get water from the church to here. There will be no road improvement. My question, do you want get water here with a one-inch line costing $125,000 or maybe less,” he said. Residents approved the scaled-down proposal and appropriated $25,000 to the fund.

Earlier in the day, 45 residents voted in the municipal elections. All four incumbents ran unopposed. Gamage won re-election with 35 votes. Treasurer Gail Sprague received 41 votes. Climo won re-election as a Boohbay Region Water District trustee with 38 votes. Nick Ullo won re-election to the school committee with 44 voters. Each candidate was elected to three-year terms.

During the town meeting, residents elected Matt Cole to a three-year term as a library trustee. He defeated Russell Jones in a voice vote. Residents elected Gamage and Sarah Sherman to three-year terms as cemetery district trustees. Melissa Simmons was elected to the budget committee for a one-year term, and Cole, Oliver Cusano and Madison Gaudette were elected to three-year terms. 

Gamage reported the mill rate rose from .0052 to .0055 and the tax commitment is $3,723,500.