RICHMOND

Residents spent nearly four hours debating at Town Meeting, with an hour spent arguing over the 2013-14 summer recreation program Tuesday night.

Voters were asked to approve a $2.6 million budget recommended by selectmen — up $3,787 from the current budget.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee agreed on expenditures for most articles, but there was a wide gap in an article requesting funds for summer recreation. Selectmen asked for $22,290; the Budget Committee, $7,500.

Budget Committee member Timothy Arnold said kids who work in the program get paid $7.50 to $10.75 per hour and the director, Rose Beckwith — who also serves as a selectman —  is paid $16 per hour.

“Our fire department makes $9 an hour and they put their life on the line,” Arnold said.

The Budget Committee thought it was going to recommend $0 for summer recreation but instead recommended $7,500, the same sum it recommended for a senior citizen’s group.
The town spent $21,000 two years ago and $22,000 this year, Arnold said, with some money collected from participant fees.

Arnold proposed user fees be placed in a reserve account for the following year. That passed, and after an initial motion to approve the Budget Committee recommendation failed, residents endorsed selectmen’s recommendation of $22,290.

Lauren Umberhind — a councilor for the summer recreation program — said it gives young people a place to go during the summer, “things to do that doesn’t involve sitting in front of a TV. It gives teenagers like myself a work opportunity and job experience that we can’t really get anywhere else.”

Michael Grizkewitsch said, “It’s not that I’m against the kids and I know it may come across that way. What I’m against” is a program he said costs the town more than $300 an hour.
After the vote, Bette Horning, director of the town senior center, said, “I cannot believe that you’re going to give them $26,000 and you’re only going to give seniors $7,500. It’s just not fair.”

Horning asked for $11,000 for the senior center, which operates 52 weeks a year.

While the senior center has money in a reserve, she argued members worked hard to raise that money, which would likely be depleted next year with only $7,500 from the town.
After nearly a half-hour of debate, voters approved an amended $11,615 for senior services.

The town body debated for another 40 minutes whether to acquire St. Mathias Episcopal Church land and buildings at 15 Spruce St., for no cost, and to appropriate $5,000 for its maintenance.

Residents discussed tabling the item. A motion was made to bar any deed restrictions, which failed. The article then passed as worded, allowing selectmen to accept the deed from the Diocese of Maine.

Voters approved contributing $5,000 to the Cobbossee Watershed Committee for removal of invasive milfoil from local waterways.

Voters also approved a Budget Committee recommendation of $71,339 for the fire department, which includes a raise for firefighters — $750 more than selectmen recommended.

Residents reduced by $19,500, to $230,850, an article funding the police department, accounting for one fewer officer position

Voters agreed to move annual Town Meeting back to June, after two years of April meetings; and rejected the option to pay taxes in four installments.

The meeting at Richmond High School attracted approximately 100 residents.