About 100 Boothbay Harbor voters came to the Boothbay Region Elementary School gymnasium on Saturday, May 3 and consistently voted to support town government and services, exceeding the monetary recommendations of the town's budget committee and selectmen. Voters approved expenditures totaling $4,100,104, about $45,000 less than proposed by the town manager, but $90,509 more than the budget committee and $197,004 more than the selectmen.

In Friday's election, Denise Griffin and Frank "Linc" Sample were chosen as the two new members of the board of selectmen. Griffin garnered 326 votes and Sample 275 votes, while incumbent Tom Carbone trailed the pack with 229.

Voters chose to keep the Harbor communications center open, but by a significantly smaller margin than in the past; 239 voted in favor of keeping the center operational, while 218 voted for closure.

Unopposed incumbents, Larry Colcord, CSD School Committee - 410 votes, Richard Hallinan, CSD School Trustee - 426 votes, Alden Jordan, Sewer District Trustee - 401, and Lewis Curtis, Water District Trustee- 421, were all re-elected.

The atmosphere in Saturday's four hours and thirty minute long town meeting was decidedly different from last year, when citizens repeatedly voiced their dissatisfaction with the board of selectmen and the limitations placed on voters by the wording of the town warrant. This year, while residents often disagreed with the selectmen's recommendations, there was little contentiousness. What there was was a consistent show of support for town employees, and in particular, the public works and police departments.

Where there was a difference between the budget committee's and selectmen's recommendations, voters more frequently sided with the budget committee. Of greatest financial significance was the acceptance of the budget committee's recommendations for town employees' wages and benefits and the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service (BRAS). Voters rejected the cuts (about $58,000) in non-union town employees' cost of living increases, health insurance, and retirement benefits recommended by the board of selectmen. Residents also voted to appropriate $58,388 to BRAS as recommended by the budget committee, instead of the $5,000 recommended by the selectmen.

Voters showed overwhelming support for the public works and police departments providing those departments with larger than recommended appropriations, as well as applause. Jody Lewis, Department of Public Works Director, asked voters to approve $155,000 for the paving and construction account ($15,000 more than the selectmen recommended and $20,000 more than the budget committee) noting that roads had taken a lot of damage this winter. Lewis's request was quickly approved by voters.

When the police department's budget was considered, Daren Graves moved that voters approve the original budget request of $660,037, rather than the budget committee's ($636,794) or selectmen's ($604,649) recommendations. Michael Mayhew proposed instead a budget of $320,000 and said, "The police department has got to adopt a different attitude and needs to be a friendlier place." After further discussion, including comments by Police Chief Robert Hasch, voters overwhelmingly approved Graves's motion.

Citizens were ready to reach into their pockets to plan for the future and rebuild the undesignated fund account, as well. They chose the more aggressive approach to funding for property reevaluation (budget committee's $30,000 rather than selectmen's $10,000), the undesignated fund (selectmen's $144,000 rather than BC's $100,800), and the future grants reserve account (selectmen's $25,000 rather than BC's $15,000).

Conversely, voters agreed with selectmen that a less aggressive approach to property assessments was warranted. The assessor's account was funded at a level that would decrease assessment visits from 25 to 20 percent per quarter for a savings of about $7,400. The selectmen's recommendation to spend less on the annual audit by choosing a less expensive firm was also endorsed by voters, for a reduction of about $6,000.

Discussion of the appropriation for the Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District was lengthy and centered on residents' dissatisfaction with the District's recent decision to suspend composting at the facility. However, when it became clear that, in the words of Jerry Closson, "You pay the bill or you don't use the facility," voters approved the appropriation.

Voters were more generous than either committee in funding the unclassified organizations, choosing the higher appropriation for the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (BC's $35,000 rather than selectmen's $30,000), Historical Society (selectmen's $2,000 rather than BC's $1,000), and St. Andrews Home Health (selectmen's $2,500 rather than BC's $0). Residents also chose to fund New Hope for Women at $1,150 (BC and selectmen $0) and Elder Care Network of Lincoln County at $2,000 (BC and selectmen $0). Voters agreed with the committee and selectmen on all other unclassified organizations.

Residents voted to exceed LD1 by about $300,000 (71 to 25), approved all proposed ordinance changes except Article 81 regarding domestic animals, and adopted the Bayville agreement.

Jody Lewis, speaking on behalf of himself and other town employees, thanked those assembled for their support and noted, "This has been one of the most productive town meetings since I have been here."