Standish incumbents ruled the day in the only contested races in Tuesday’s municipal elections while Standish voters partially approved the SAD 6 school budget.

With nearly 600 residents turning out to vote on June 14 at the George E. Jack Elementary School gym, Philip Pomerleau, with 354 votes, succeeded in holding on to his Standish Town Council seat, fighting off a bid from challenger Paul Mosley, with 199 votes.

Although his granddaughter said he won because she had her fingers crossed, Pomerleau felt it was because of the support from the “diehard people that carry the load” who were there to vote. “I think it shows people are happy with the council,” he said, “that we’re firing on eight cylinders.”

“I put my name on the list,” Mosley said, commenting on the election results, “because a lot of people want to get up and say a lot of things and complain but don’t want to take the time to do something about it. I was willing to take the time to address the issues.”

Mosley added that he thought his recent Planning Board vote to approve Dana Lampron’s application for the Pit Stop near Colonial Marketplace might have affected his chances for being elected to the council.

In the race for SAD 6 Director, Michael Delcourt received 307 votes to win reelection over newcomer Corey MacDonald, with 230 votes. When contacted by phone for his reaction, Delcourt said, “I worked harder than him [MacDonald]. I was at the polls all day. I have a good following.”

Delcourt, one of three Standish school committee members who voted against the 2005-2006 school budget, has served as a director for 15 years.

Challenger MacDonald was unavailable for comment.

Residents also voted on the SAD 6 2005-2006 fiscal year school budget under articles two through five. Although article four did not pass, the other three articles were approved.

Article four requested the appropriation of nearly $4 million in additional local funds. These are funds over and above the District’s local contribution to the total cost of funding as defined in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act (EPSFA). This article proved to be the source of contention for many of the voters and it failed to be approved locally with 258 in favor and 294 against, as well as district-wide with 750 in favor and 801 against.

With the defeat of article four, the feeling on whether the school budget passed depends on the individual.

According to Standish Town Manager Gordon Billington, “the school budget did not pass.”

But both School Board Chairman Bruce Avery and Superintendent Suzanne Lukas disagreed. They felt the public showed their approval of the budget, itself, but say the problem is in what the voters think should be the state’s responsibility.

In a phone interview, Lukas said, “I feel it’s a statement about the voters wanting the state to pay their share.”

When asked for her comments on article four’s defeat, Standish Town Councilor Dolly Lymburner said, “I felt it was a necessary message. A message that the local share is too high.” Lymburner initiated last month’s order that resulted in the council’s decision to recommend a “No” vote for the school budget.

But when asked separately if they believed the statement or message would be noticed by the state, both Lukas and Lymburner thought the state would most likely take no notice.

Article two asked the voters to appropriate $30 million for the total cost of funding education as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act (EPSFA) and asked them to approve raising $13 million, with Standish’s share being $5.6 million. Standish approved article two, 309 to 271. The total vote from the five towns in the district, Buxton, Frye Island, Hollis, Limington, and Standish, was 923-668 in favor.

Article three asked for the appropriation of $516,000 for the annual payment on debt service for non-state funded school construction projects. Standish voters approved the article 340 to 239 and the five-town total was 970 yes, and 629 no.

Article five authorized the board to expend the total school budget from the sources in articles two through four only. This passed in Standish 309 yes to 265 no and also passed in the district with 870 yes and 693 no.

The SAD 6 School Board of Directors will discuss any changes to the budget at Monday night’s board meeting, open to the public and televised on local access. According to Avery, since the budget has already been approved, “only article four will go back up for the public.”

In Tuesday’s uncontested races, Dana Lampron won reelection to the budget committee. For Standish Town Council, Dolly Lymburner retains her seat for area two and Gerald Spencer for rea four. And Wayne Newbegin is a planning board member for area three.

Copy the Story Link