ISLAND FALLS, Maine — Plans for a townwide revaluation failed to garner support from its residents during the Island Falls annual town meeting.
About 30 residents gathered at the town’s municipal building Thursday evening to review expenditures for 2022. The group spent nearly two hours reviewing the 34 warrant articles.
The bulk of the evening’s discussion focused on a proposal to spend $100,000 for a townwide revaluation. The article was not endorsed by the town’s board of selectmen, but several members of the audience felt a revaluation was needed to bring greater balance to property values.
Selectman Anthony Binotto said the board was not in favor of spending $100,000 on the project, indicating the matter could be handled more effectively through the town’s assessor.
“We agree that we need to do some adjustments,” Binotto said. “This year, we have had an extremely volatile real estate market. Our numbers are below the state (valuation). We don’t agree with spending $100,000 to do it.”
Binotto said the town felt it could resolve the problem a little bit at a time through its assessor.
ISLAND FALLS, Maine — March 17, 2022 — Steve Porter of Crystal served as the moderator for the annual Island Falls town meeting Thursday evening. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Resident Allen Schenk spoke in favor of the revaluation plan, saying the town has been promising to do adjustments to property values for the past several years.
“All these years, there has been this problem and the town has not taken care of it,” Schenk said. “It has not happened. All of the promises in the world do not mean action.”
The article ultimately failed to gain the approval of those in attendance, meaning no townwide revaluation will take place this year.
Another topic that drew considerable attention, even though it was not technically a warrant article, was the disposal of bulky items such as appliances and electronics.
Resident Fred Anderson asked the board to consider hosting a free collection day for these items in order to help clean up the town in time for its 150th celebration this summer. Anderson’s idea drew overwhelming support from those in the audience.
Selectman Frank Porter said since it was not a warrant article, the group could not officially vote on the topic, but did agree that the idea had merit. Porter said the selectmen would discuss the matter at its next regularly scheduled meeting to see if such an amnesty day for large trash items was feasible.
Residents approved a municipal spending plan of $1,240,005, which is up $75,965 from the previous year’s budget.
The town also presented Rebecca Drew with a proclamation thanking her for her many years of service as the town’s librarian. Drew retired from the position in December 2021 after 22 years of service.
ISLAND FALLS, Maine — March 17, 2022 — Island Falls selectman Anthony Binotto was re-elected to the board for another three-year term. Binotto was not seeking re-election, but received 76 votes as a write-in candidate. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
At the polls the day prior, Binotto was re-elected to the town’s Board of Selectmen, even though he had decided not to seek re-election. Binotto received 76 votes as a write-in candidate. Desiree Hawk, the only candidate listed on the ballot, received 20 votes.
Binotto informed the town office that he would accept the position for another three-year term.
In addition, Greg Ryan was successfully re-elected to the RSU 50 school board with 91 votes. He ran unopposed.
This article has been updated to indicate the correct amount the budget has increased.
