FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — After much discussion and debate, the Fort Fairfield Town Council has set a public hearing to consider residents’ thoughts on a proposed ordinance to form and regulate a new budget committee.
The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, March 7, in the council chambers, located in the town office at 18 Community Center Drive.
Though several councilors previously expressed support for the formation of a budget committee during the January council meeting, others wanted more time for the town to seek legal advice and draft a proposed ordinance.
During the most recent council meeting Wednesday, Town Manager Andrea Powers read the ordinance, which indicates the committee members’ duties and limitations.
If approved, the committee would have from five to seven volunteer members that town councilors would appoint. Town officials, employees and their spouses would not be allowed to serve on the committee. All members would serve two-year terms.
Though the committee would elect its own officers and set a meeting schedule, it would not be allowed to make formal decisions regarding the town’s budget, Powers said. It will only review the budget and capital expenditures and make recommendations to the town council.
“Their role is to be an advisory committee governed by the council,” Powers said.
Since the council was merely introducing the ordinance to the public, a formal vote will not be required until a future meeting. No councilors had questions or expressed concerns regarding the ordinance.
The public hearing announcement came after several town residents expressed their disapproval for the budget committee idea.
Former town clerk Billie Jo Sharpe said that the committee would undermine the work that town department heads already put into developing and negotiating their budgets with councilors.
“These are the people who work diligently to stay under or within their budget and search endlessly for grants to lower costs,” Sharpe said. “Having a budget committee would tell department heads that you have zero confidence in them, and that is sad.”
Longtime resident Jennifer Gaenzle said that she views the current town council as the “budget committee.” She encouraged councilors to instead educate themselves about the budget process through conversations with town officials.
“This is not a business budget. Unlike a business, it’s not about making a profit, it’s about providing services and planning for new services,” Gaenzle said. “Put your minds to the task of learning how the budget works.”
In other business, the council approved the use of $73,267 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase a new ambulance stretcher, stair chair and cardiac monitor for the Fire & Rescue service. Each item includes five-year, six-year and three-year warranties, respectively. The cost breakdown is $26,587 for the stretcher, $5,056 for the stair chair and $41,623 for the cardiac monitor.
Fire & Rescue Chief Timothy Browning said that although the department has two stretchers, stair chairs and monitors, having additional equipment will give them backup equipment if need be and better prepare them for purchasing a third ambulance if that need arises.
Fort Fairfield received $346,927 in ARPA funds last fall after Aroostook County received a total of $13 million to distribute to municipalities.
The next regular town council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in the council chambers.
