camden maine select board

06/2024. If we are to consider affordable housing, what are the guardrails we should set for this objective to make this reasonable and equitable for all knowing supply and demand are the key drivers here? Fax: (207) 236-7956. Historically, from the earliest days of settlement, the downtown was a place for activity and noise was understood as a byproduct of life. What is your opinion of the Megunticook River restoration project and goals? When comparing our home in California to Camden, it clearly showed us how remarkable our Camden community truly is. If your car broke down in the middle of town, you were often lucky enough to have be within pushing distance from either Matt or Steve. There are infinite opportunities to do good through town government and I am slowly learning to pace myself. Alison McKellar Photo by Holly Vanorse Spicer Chris Nolan Photo by Holly Vanorse Spicer Tags Select Board Megunticook River Camden Select Board Become an online member today: To manage your account, just hover and click on your name above. People visit Camden for the same reason that many of us live here. The Swap Shop is set to reopen in a much larger building with expanded hours as soon we get through the worst of the coronavirus restrictions. And, community members should be allowed a seat at the table, maintaining an open mind and contribute to making a recommendation to the Select Board based on the data and the best interests of the community. Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the town and region. Through my work collecting donations for Syria from hospitals, hotels, businesses, and private citizens, I see the immense amount of material that is being discarded when it could be reused. Please provide a brief biography of yourself and explain why you decided to seek a seat on the Select Board. We work at the county level on many things like emergency management, courts, sheriff, and regional planning and of course we share an elementary and middle school. It should be noted that this is only a feasibility study and project costs are likely to change in the event the project progresses. Flooding in Harbor Park and the Public Landing appear to be more directly tied to rising sea levels than Montgomery Dam. Camden Select Board to consider $11.3 million 2024 budget, broadband Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for the Camden Select Board, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the town and region. I also believe there are good examples of mixed-use space throughout New England that could be replicated on a small scale for the Tannery property, involving some retail and housing. Thomas Hedstrom is running against incumbent Marc Ratner for the three-year seat. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Election Date Tuesday, November 3, 2020 Polls open at 8 am and close at 8 pmPolling Place Camden Public Safety Building 31 Washington Street, Camden, Maine To adhere to public health and social distancing guidelines, a limited number of voters at a time will be permitted into the polling location. 06/2024. Town Meeting will be conducted by secret ballot only. Deck Bar & Grill OPEN TODAY - LUNCH & DINNER from 11:30AM-8PM! Select Board Chair: rfalciani@camdenmaine.gov (207) 236-4955: Elected Official - Expires 06/2023: Alison: McKellar: Select Board Chair: amckellar@camdenmaine.gov (386) 956-1530: Elected Official - Expires 06/2024: Sophie: Romana: Select Board Member: sromana@camdenmaine.gov (917) 415-5911: Elected Official - Expires 06/2024: Matthew: Siegel . The wise choices we make at the polls are vital to a victory of the democratic spirit. Proper site planning and ongoing oversight are essential and the Select Board and town staff have been diligent in monitoring rain events, asking questions, and investing in drainage studies proactively. In fact, the welcome and open attitude is underwhelming at best. That said, weve taken steps over the past couple years to make the mountain more affordable (free for Camden residents on Wednesdays is one example) and Snow Bowl staff are often looking for ways that people can enjoy the mountain for free year round. Privatization of services (our current model) is sometimes in the publics best interest and sometimes not. At the state and federal level, we have a republic, not a democracy, and this is the system we teach in schools. However, like many, work and family tend to take priority and fill our days. Camden, ME Share this page on your favorite Social network, To view all Town of Camden Board and Committee meetings, https://www.youtube.com/c/TownofCamdenMaine/streams, Request for Expressions of Interest: Community Engagement & Outreach Megunticook River Project, Cleaning & Maintence Services for Camden Opera House, RFP - Engineering Services - Rawson Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, Megunticook River Project - Phase I Consultant, Requests for Expressions of Interest - Sagamore Farm Property, Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility Improvements, RFP- Redevelopment of the Former Apollo Tannery Site, June 20, 2023 Camden, ME Alison McKellar - Select Board - Camden, Maine. Five years later, we had an opportunity to move back, and we took it. Seven votes determine winner of Lincolnville select board in special electionTuesday, December 15, 2020, On the issues: Lincolnville Select Board Candidate Jordan Barnett-ParkerSunday, December 13, 2020, On the issues: Lincolnville Select Board Candidate Jason TrundySunday, December 13, 2020, Vote Jordan Barnett-Parker for Lincolnville Select BoardFriday, December 4, 2020, Secretary Dunlap credits partnerships, thanks municipal clerks for conducting a safe electionWednesday, December 2, 2020, Join me in supporting Jordan Barnett-Parker as our new Lincolnville selectmanMonday, November 30, 2020, Internet is a necessary utility, not a luxuryThursday, November 26, 2020, Recount complete for House District 98 raceFriday, November 20, 2020, Recount confirms Zeigler won House District 96 raceFriday, November 20, 2020, UPDATED: Ballot recounts in House District 96, 98 races scheduled for Nov. 20Thursday, November 12, 2020. The proposed entertainment district would land on the east side of the harbor owned by Lyman-Morse boatbuilding. 2:00 Vinnie works for Yachting Solutions and I am able to stay home with the kids most of the time by supplementing our income through renting rooms in our home (mostly long term tenants and work/travel visa students from around the world who work in Camden's restaurants and inns during the summer). Housing and home prices in general are experiencing a remarkable phenomenon dictated by current market forces. The house is torn down and replaced and before you know it, its on the market for $600,000 or more. Deck Bar & Grill OPEN TODAY - LUNCH & DINNER from 11:30AM-8PM! My biggest problem is that i want to be a part of them all, but with so much going on in Camden, one can very quickly spread themselves too thin and wind up doing a mediocre job at everything. And, three candidates are competing for two open seats on the School Administrative District 28/Five Town CSD school boards. Anchor Restaurant - OPEN - SERVING LUNCH & DINNER 12-8pm! In his resignation letter which was accepted by the Select Board Tuesday. I attended high school right here in Camden, but I don't remember anyone telling me about the role of the Select Board or the things to be voted on at town meeting. Specialty shops and industries will come and go but the basic human desire to interact with nature in a somewhat wild form is an irreplaceable commodity. However, at the same time as we welcome new residents who can make these types of investments, we must also encourage more affordable housing and updated zoning that incentivizes increased density and less expensive options, especially within the walkable downtown. Office Walk-in . Opportunities for partnership need not be restricted to Rockport. Many who are drawn to purchase property downtown are taking advantage of opportunities in our zoning to convert commercial space into living space and many of the occupants have no patience for Camdens night scene or even the early morning clanging and banging of the harbor. Where the mountains meet the sea. The great thing about Camden is its diversity. Camden is so sought after as a place live and vacation that property owners are investing in catering to this market. PM, August 24, 2022 It exists nowhere else but here in New England. The move back was a good move. However, our four Select Board members had something else in mind, and we soon began hearing criticism of our traditional, directly democratic town meeting governanceprimarily, that voters hadway too muchpower (and by inference, the Select Board, too little). Many of us prepare our words over several days or weeks. How important are municipal volunteer committees to a towns governance? CAMDEN Incumbent Alison McKellar and newcomer Chris Nolan won seats on the Camden Select Board in Tuesday's election, June 13. 2:00 Camden ME 04843. MIDC is a regional broadband utility, with the goal of providing universal access fiber to the premise (FTTP) high-speed broadband to all homes and businesses in their service territory. The average citizen receives approximately three minutes to express politely his or her opinion, share ideas, bring up long-standing concerns, or question where we may be heading. I think this loses a core benefit the select board offers community members who actually work in the community, like their constituents. To return to the Pilot 2020 Election Page, click here. Telephone Request: 207-236-3353 Ext 1. Remember, in a directly democratic town meeting,the ruled are the rulers! WRITE-IN CANDIDACYInformation on how to be a write-in candidate and how to vote for one may be found by clicking on the link above. Simply getting up to speed on essential town documents and reports involves many hundreds of pages of reading (charter, comprehensive plan, ordinances, downtown master plan, etc, etc) and our meeting packets are filled with everything from the nitty gritty details of liquor license applications to copies of signage to approve to road closings. We have a town meeting in name only. If you are not a supporter, please consider becoming one today. Ironically, by voting in favor of the secret ballot, the majority of our towns voters also approved deletion of Section 6.06 Town Vote on the Budget, which stated,The qualified voters of the Town shall have power under this article to require consideration or reconsideration of any budget item prior to adjournment of the annual Town Meeting.. It sounds simple but its hard work. I subscribe to a podcast through the Institute for Local Self Reliance which deals with this topic. Virtually unknown to most of the voting public, these related Amendments were designed to strengthen our Select Board and Town Managers decision-making powers, and their control over the Budget Committee while destroying the decisive legislative role held by Camdens voters for 200-plus years. I knew from serving on the school board, some of the challenges with the building. Town of Camden Maine - YouTube During my first three years on the Select Board, we have been working to implement youtube live-streaming of all committee meetings as well as all Select Board workshops and MDOT public hearings. Excavation and restoration standards are required to preserve the integrity, operational safety, and functionality of public Roads. Camdens post-colonial residents originally established the town meeting back in 1791 as their most effective means ofdirectlydiscussing and deciding issues affecting the town and its future directionas an assemblageso all could hear the pros and cons of various issues and undertakings before voting, rather than leaving such matters to their elected, short-term, Select Board representatives to resolve. Removing specific names of budget categories from the Charter. Sometimes, these issues reflect the concerns and priorities of the wider community, but it is also not uncommon for the loudest voices to represent minority views. At the April 4 meeting, the Camden Select Board is being asked whether it wants to move the project forward to voters for funding approval. The Select Board meeting is live - Town of Camden, Maine | Facebook Ostensibly with the goal of broadening public interest and increasing voter turnout, the Select Board maintained that voting by secret ballot was preferable to open voting at town meetings. Unfortunately, as more buildings were remodeled, many traded out factories and offices for housing closer to town, and complaints about noise often plagued businesses and patrons until they kind of gave up. Ultimately, community members of the town would have the final say we as taxpayers would have to foot the bill if we agreed with the recommendation. 2:00 New trails and paths must be well planned to account for drainage, erosion control, vegetative buffers, slope, and soil type, and existing trails and trouble spots must be monitored for warning signs. Share this page on your favorite Social network, To view all Town of Camden Board and Committee meetings, https://www.youtube.com/c/TownofCamdenMaine/streams, Current Committee Membership Board Listing. Rose Cottage Bakery is OPEN Saturdays at 9 a.m. Cottage Connection of Maine Vacation Rentals Since 1993, SINGER SONGWRITER KENDALL DEAN PERFORMS THIS THURSDAY EVENING AT OCEAN POINT KITCHEN 6PM, The Waldo to screen the film Who Invited Them on Monday, July 3rd at 7:00pm, with filmmaker present, FREE Family Film: Kiss The Ground at The Waldo on Sunday, July 2nd at 4:00 pm, PAUL DALESSIO & MARK STOVER TO PERFORM AT OCEAN POINT KITCHEN WEDNESDAY EVENING FROM 7-9PM. Unfortunately, what I have observed repeatedly from the Chairman and those Select Board members seated immediately on either side of him, is not the welcoming, inviting experience one might expect. The best way to cut down on our impact is to invest in a town where people can afford to live, work, and shop (ideally without having to get in a vehicle). We get more rain and more intense storms than when Camden was first settled. Please provide a concise biography of yourself. Tell your friends about www.MaineCoast.tv Community Media. Cannabis shops in Camden were rejected at the polls. However, like many, work and family tend to take priority and fill our days. While we work hard to keep you informed about the Midcoast community, how citizens cope and thrive, we need your help, too. Being known as a destination families can thrive in because we have infrastructure in place to support the reality of remote work, helps us maintain that tight community where you recognize and get to know people when youre at the post office or the bank. Join for as little as $2.99 per month and support local journalism on a community hub that serves everyone. Had the Select Boards goal been to dismantle our directly democratic form of governance, Covid-19 proved to be a godsend, providing excellent cover. I feel that still holds true today. If we want to support ecotourism and outdoor adventure sports, we will have to be willing to give up parking spots in favor of bike and kayak racks and replace some infrastructure (like certain culverts, dams and seawalls) with solutions that make way for sea level rise and habitat restoration. Instead of questioning, debate, and deciding by open vote, we now vote alone, by secret ballot. Alexis de Tocqueville famously singled out town meeting/direct democracy as the purest form of democracy ever put into practice. The Interfluve Report doesnt appear to me to conclusively state the dams are or would be the cause of flooding in the AE Zone from the Main Street bridge back to the Mill. The board will also consider a 2023-2024 municipal budget of approximately $11.3 million, representing a 7 to 8.5 percent increase over the current budget. Anchor Restaurant - OPEN - SERVING LUNCH & DINNER 12-8pm! Our next Election Day is June 13. One day, one of those once-in-a-lifetime job opportunities came along and I grabbed hold another remarkable family-owned company. We have a ecological and geographic diversity that is unrivaled in the state. Camden's new board takes on appointments, sets new agenda However, the proposed MCSWC 2024 budget includes a price increase: Small bags are to increase from $1.50 per bag to $2 per/bag, and large bags will increase from $2.50 to 3. (Were there too many words, not enough space? Stephanie FrenchThomas HedstromRobert LawsonMarc Ratner. The people who can show up in person for a public hearing are not the only voices who matter and it is up to the Select Board to present a budget that we believe is best for the majority of residents. Share this page on your favorite Social network, To view all Town of Camden Board and Committee meetings, https://www.youtube.com/c/TownofCamdenMaine/streams, Municipal (Town) Sample Ballot - Town Meeting Warrant Questions 06.13.23, CSD 19 (Five Towns) Referendum Sample Ballot 06.13.23, by immediate family member/domestic partner, by 3rd person - A 3rd person is a aunt, uncle, friend or caregiver etc. A positive, open-minded Camden Select Board is critical - Maine Coast The idea that we can continue to live our lives in the same way as long we build a bunch of solar farms and we all drive electric cars is a myth. Tell your friends about www.MaineCoast.tv Community Media. How did they do it? We are grateful to those who already participate. OnJuly 14, voters in Camden will choose two of three candidates to serve a three-year term on the Camden Select Board. None of that is a bad thing on its own, but we are missing the other side of the coin which must involve the creation of additional lower cost housing and protection of some districts for commercial activity. Gentrification: This is just a fancy way of saying that Camden is becoming too desirable to be affordable and sometimes too fussy to be fun. Roads, culverts, sewer, and storm drains are already in constant need of replacement and the more water, the faster it all needs attention. I would like to see the Farmers Market have a more permanent footprint there as well as a park. Town Reports; Town Meeting & Budget Information; Managers Reports; Business Licenses; Select Board. And if you like a post, please share its url to social media. 2:00 I served on the MSAD 28 and CSD school boards for nearly five years, three of those as chair for the CSD. Every meeting I attend is to either support or to learn more about a particular town issue. Feel free to contact me with quest If the voter is assisted in marking the ballot the aide must sign as aide on the ballot envelope and 1 other witness must verify and sign off. The Good Table has everything you need to prepare your next delicious meal. Camden Select Board member resigns after raising concerns over the town Dear Friends: Images From Maine #148 Peter Ralston. The Camden Select Board, whoever is on it, must be brave in standing up for the public interest of spaces where people and businesses are free and encouraged to be awake and alive. Roundup: Central Maine municipal election results by town Select Board meetings are broadcast live on Spectrum Cable TV channel 1303 and web streamed at: www.youtube.com/TownofCamdenMaine, April 4, 2023 6:30 p.m. French Conference Room, For those wishing to participate remotely via Zoom, click here. Many people may not realize that ambulance and emergency medical services are overseen and/or administered by the town. I see Camden's place as part of the outdoor recreational economy more as a natural progression than a direct result of promotion, branding, or marketing. While we work hard to keep you informed about the Midcoast community, how citizens cope and thrive, we need your help, too. Add our free ROKU channel "Maine Coast TV". Camden elections and 2020 Town Meeting during COVID-19 pandemic. But, as matters now stand, we no longer have our traditional annual town meeting in Camdens Opera House. It's not just in the downtown where Camden has become unaffordable. What is the reason why we do this? Camden residents are voting on cannabis stores and the budget, and they pick their Select Board and school board members Tuesday, June 13. What is your opinion on the current impasse between Camden and Rockport over Rockports use of the Camden sewer system and Camdens demand for payment from Rockport? The ballot is given to the 3rd person to deliver to the voter. The seats all carry three-year terms. Join for as little as $2.99 per month and support local journalism on a community hub that serves everyone. I view Camden and Rockport as two highly interconnected communities that should support each other. This gift-horses name was Article 3(the Secret Ballot amendment to Camdens Town Charter on the June 14, 2022 ballot). Among the first items for the newly elected Select Board each year is appointing various town officials including the town attorney, police chief, fire chief, town manager and harbormaster. The town does rely heavily on the eyes and ears of citizens who notice things before they turn into major problems and no one should feel shy about calling the town with environmental concerns and observations. Please provide a concise biography of yourself. And with Covid-19 still a threat to public gatherings, townspeople found this argument persuasive (as became apparent in a straw vote that November). In an unprecedented move, Camden will also hold its annual town meeting on July 14, as well, with all warrant articles appearing before voters at the ballot box. CAMDEN The Select Board in Camden will convene April 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the French Conference Room to discuss ordinance amendments affecting road openings and creating a 2.9 acre Harbor Entertainment District, as well as proposals to 1) spend money on connecting broadband in municipal facilities; 2) ask voters to change the municipal charter to allow the Select Board to appoint Budget Committee members as opposed to citizens electing them; and 3) increase the cost of the yellow pay as you throw bags that the public uses to enclose trash in before depositing the bags at Mid-Coast Solid Waste Transfer Facility in Rockport. The Select Board gets to choose a town manager, but citizens must vote on budgets, ordinances, and many contracts and policies that the town adopts. 2:00 This makes it much easier for not only Select Board members but also residents and town staff to follow the committees discussions and provide comments along the way. Calculations should take into consideration the total emissions benefit of a project including a full life cycle analysis of the manufacturing and disposal of materials. There will be no open floor town meeting in 2020. Town Select Board Follow this and additional works at:https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/towndocs This Plan is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. They come in the form of an inter-local agreement between adjacent towns or scouring grant opportunities that may offset municipal spending on things we would have to do anyway, such as culvert and bridge replacement. Its as simple and elegant as that. Lincolnville is an essential partner that we should work more closely with through the watershed and lake that we share and our partnerships with Belfast are expanding through a shared municipal attorney and mutual aid arrangement with the code enforcement office. PM, May 15, 2023 I genuinely enjoyed the experience and considered serving again when we moved back. We have an obligation to pursue and understand all options and to present the information in a way that helps residents identify and weigh the costs and benefits. The proposed entertainment district would be on the east side of the harbor currently owned by Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding. Hours of Operation: Mon -Fri 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. In the end, nobody bothered to investigate the horses mouth; had they done so, they would have found some nasty teeth. But now they have crossed the line and are undermining the core tenets of democracy. Clear guardrails in place so committee is highly focused, Subject Matter Experts to help guide the committee toward achieving a successful outcome. Plow trucks beeping all night in the winter and people yelling as they spilled out of bars and restaurants, their ears still ringing from the music that was once heard much louder and later in Camden. The Good Table has everything you need to prepare your next delicious meal. Select Board Assistant Chairperson McKellar was at the forefront of this campaign, and by far the most outspokenboth in her frequent opinion pieces inThe Camden Heraldand at public meetings. PM, September 09, 2022 Should a new lodge be built? I genuinely enjoyed the experience and considered serving again when we moved back. They include: Codifying the appointment of Budget Committee members by the Select Board, instead of through an election process. Having something really meaningful to contribute, is in my mind, more important and necessary than trying to be an expert on everything, but in the moment it is hard to decide where my time is best spent. Camden Select Board candidate Alison McKellar | PenBay Pilot One day, one of those once-in-a-lifetime job opportunities came along and I grabbed hold another remarkable family-owned company. The affordable, cramped, and noisy second floor apartments above downtown businesses have historically housed working people, recent graduates, restaurant staff, and boat captains. I agree there is a lack of workforce housing in Camden. CAMDEN, Maine Town residents will have five candidates to choose from for two available seats on the select board when they go to the polls in June. On several occasions, I ventured to the podium. I live with my husband (Vincent Jones) and two kids (Colton and Mason) on Mechanic Street. I enjoy learning and I especially thrive when I realize, often through the comments of other residents, that I was missing part of the puzzle. And the pandemic gave them ample time to acclimate the public to convenient, no-discussion, non-confrontational ballot-box voting at Camdens Public Safety Building (the fire station). The Select Board Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, May 18 and corresponding backup material can be found here:. PM, September 09, 2022 Increasing recycling rates for household containers, cardboard, and mixed paper is an important goal, but we can likely accomplish more for the environment, with less cost to taxpayers, by simply creating ways to facilitate reuse of materials destined for the landfill or incinerator. Camden moves forward with TIF proposals - Bangor Daily News Camden and Rockport now share a police chief and an assessor. The town can still stand to improve a lot in terms of communication and outreach to residents. The intent was not to increase property taxes to fund the build-out of the network. Open to all, supported by readers. Alexis de Tocqueville famously singled out town meeting/direct democracy as the purest form of democracy ever put into practice. Because, in a direct democracy, final decision-making power on policy and budgets (unless contrary to state and federal law) resides exclusively in the hands of registered voters at town meetings. Camden, ME 2:00 With two Camden Select Board positions opening up this June, I wanted to take a few minutes to share some thoughts about the Select Board meetings I have personally attended over the past 2 1/2 years. 2:00 Please click here to view past and current web stream videos at: YouTube Select Board Liaison to Town Boards Current Committee Membership Board ListingSelect Board Bylaws, As a general rule, the Select Board Meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays - 6:30 pm in the French Conference Meeting Room on Washington Street (back side of the Camden Town Office). Join for as little as $2.99 per month and support local journalism on a community hub that serves everyone.
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