There are significant opportunities for improvement in this area and my main concern is with increasing efficiency and expanding opportunities for salvage and reuse. I am currently the Treasurer of the Corporation and I believe we now have a very good group of members and the possibility to make significant headway. With residents being busier than ever, it is unfair to expect that everyone can give their opinions during formal meetings or that they have the time to do detailed research on every ballot or budget item. 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. Every meeting I attend bears witness to citizens taking part in the democratic process. They, as Select Board members, were not voted into their positions to ram through their chosen passions with no little or no regard for others. A very clear understanding for its purpose and how it can be monetized through every season should be the foundation of moving forward. The $150,000 fixer upper starter home is a thing of the past in Camden as these buildings often find themselves in the way of one that is more suited to the tastes of the new buyers. More rain, rising seas, and aging infrastructure: No one denies that Maine's climate is changing, and whether you believe that humans are causing or that it's just a much faster stage of the normal natural progression of life on planet earth, it makes sense to plan for the change. 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. Camden is holding municipal, school budget and state elections on July 14. Thomas Hedstrom is running against incumbent Marc Ratner for the three-year seat. To date, a new lodge has not been constructed. 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. To return to the Pilot 2020 Election Page, click here. We need Select Board members who act as our representativesnot leaders or judges or self-appointed shepherds who would have us be their sheep. In the end, nobody bothered to investigate the horses mouth; had they done so, they would have found some nasty teeth. What is your opinion having a select board vs. a council form of government? The pandemic gave the board a good excuse to put most citizen-volunteer committees on hiatus for months on end (volunteer committees being an essential part of town meeting government). Telephone Request: 207-236-3353 Ext 1. See the Ballotpedia calendar page for more election dates. My biggest personal concern is with waste reduction, environmental stewardship, and historic preservation. Town Meeting will be conducted by secret ballot only. Add our free ROKU channel "Maine Coast TV". PM, June 15, 2023 Select Board (one seat): Gary A. Parker: 222 elected* Mark T. Russell: 221 *Recount possible MAINE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT 49 Representing Clinton (one seat): Neal Caverly: 146. There are two seats available on the Select Board, each representing three-year terms. We promise that the people of Camden will get a chance to vote on the dam. A City Council form of government, while still elected, are paid to run the town. I continue to look for ways that people can give input quickly and I will continue to use social media and letters to the editor to share thoughts and solicit comments. I've lived in more than one and the benefit was living a stone's throw from everything, but it came with significant drawbacks for anyone who needs peace and quiet. 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. Anchor Restaurant - OPEN - SERVING LUNCH & DINNER 12-8pm! When you call for an ambulance, you just want it to be there fast and to have highly skilled people arrive with it as well as assisting over the phone. Alexis de Tocqueville famously singled out town meeting/direct democracy as the purest form of democracy ever put into practice. However, almost 1,000 voters (actually, 943) turn out to be really very fond of horses, especially gift-horses! 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. Were these 943 Camden voters on June 14 fully aware that our annual town meeting constituted our sole opportunity as legally empowered legislators to reconsider, challenge, debateeven repurposewarrant articles and spending amounts recommended by the towns Budget Committee and our representatives on the Select Board? Ultimately, it's a great system; the last holdout in the experiment of direct democracy that began in New England nearly 400 years ago, but if people don't know how it works, then it doesn't work at all. 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. 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. 69. The Select Board actually marked this passage for deletion while "editing" the Camden Town Charter in draft form months before the June election. 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. PM, September 09, 2022 These three Select Board members chose, at one point several years ago, to generously allocate their time and skills to this endeavor of town stewardship. This requires reading reports from independent auditors, updating spreadsheets of expected capital improvement and maintenance needs, understanding the issues and opportunities laid out in our comprehensive plan, and staying on top of new ways that municipalities are solving problems around the country. And if you like a post, please share its url to social media. 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. Sometimes, the more you learn, the harder it is to see things clearly, and I suppose that is part of the joy of municipal government. 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. Today, millions of people around the world would give almost anything to possess this rare, directly democratic power that 943 of Camdens townspeople gave up unquestioningly last Junemost of them, very likely, without realizing the mistake they were making. 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). The move back was a good move. How do you see Camden positioned in the larger regional Midcoast economy? How will you protect the town-owned Ragged Mountain Recreation Area from overuse as the region becomes more attractive to biking, skiing and hiking? Clouds. Another way to explain it, in Camdens case especially, is the encroachment of residential development in traditionally commercial and industrial districts. I think some of the previously submitted ideas had merit. During the summer of 2021, Camdens Charter Commission (following several years work evaluating possible charter updates), had strongly recommended Camdenretainour traditional town meeting governance structure. I knew from serving on the school board, some of the challenges with the building. I am in the camp of another Select Board member who stated in a recent meeting, I dont have enough information to form an opinion. Let facts be our guide even the unpopular facts and allow community members and subject-matter-experts a seat at the table to collectively learn from each other and provide a recommendation. While sitting in the audience at Select Board meetings, I have searched for the sincere and receptive eye contact from these same three more seasoned Select Board members towards the citizens of Camden. 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. Tell your friends about www.MaineCoast.tv Community Media. Nearly everyone has to adjust and speak more loudly into the microphone. For the majority of citizens, this is one of the most fundamental aspects of town government. Even just 10-12 years ago, when I had returned home to Camden and was working at Peter Otts as a bartender at night and part time at the Watershed School by day, there were still at least a handful of places that could be counted on to stay open past 11. CAMDEN Incumbent Alison McKellar and newcomer Chris Nolan won seats on the Camden Select Board in Tuesday's election, June 13. When I served on the school board, the school administration did a great job of detailing the needs of each district providing the pros of supporting that line item and the cons of not supporting it. 5:00 When I was first elected to the Select Board I got a note in the mail from a wise friend who congratulated me and offered some simple advice: that when making decisions, to seek what is best for the majority of residents.. Deck Bar & Grill OPEN TODAY - LUNCH & DINNER from 11:30AM-8PM! The wise choices we make at the polls are vital to a victory of the democratic spirit. 2:00 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. It's not just in the downtown where Camden has become unaffordable. Housing and home prices in general are experiencing a remarkable phenomenon dictated by current market forces. 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. On top of the increased precipitation, we also now have fewer trees and more paved surfaces throughout the watershed, both in Camden and Lincolnville. We get more rain and more intense storms than when Camden was first settled. However, their interest in and enthusiasm for their fellow town citizens has waned. I agree there is a lack of workforce housing in Camden. There arent many places left like Camden and being able to maintain that specialness has a value all on its own. Alexis de Tocqueville famously singled out town meeting/direct democracy as the purest form of democracy ever put into practice. And if you like a post, please share its url to social media. Reducing our impact on the planet is not as simple as choosing different products to buy and in fact the tendency to try and save the planet by buying new things is part of the problem. PM, September 09, 2022 Having two kids in the local school system also provides an important link to this part of our town which is separate but in many ways connected to municipal government. 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. Camden ME 04843. I enjoy flyfishing very much. Our recourse may be the petition, or it may be the ballot box. 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. Excavation and restoration standards are required to preserve the integrity, operational safety, and functionality of public Roads. The University of Maine Hutchinson Center, Belfasts Open Garden Days to explore in-town garden of couple with decades of experience, Camden Garden Club holds opening reception for retrospective exhibit Celebrate Gardening: Cultivating a Community, Thomaston churches to hold combined yard sale, July 1, First Church in Belfast Summer fair to be held July 8, Rockport Masonic Center free lawn concert July 5, Celebrate the 4th of July in style at OHTMs American Dream Machines event, Camden Yacht Club to host free public evening of seafaring stories, July 5, The Little Prince read by the actor Aurlien Recoing, I Paint My Life - a lecture by Victoria Browning Wyeth, Belfast history walking tours offered summer Fridays in 2023, Camden Shakespeare Festival casts a spellwith A Midsummer Nights Dream. Please provide a concise biography of yourself. However, like many, work and family tend to take priority and fill our days. 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. Odd as it may seem, apart from noting that voters last June approved changes to town meeting process, the article made no reference to what has to be the most profound change to occur in our towns governance in over 200 years. The citizens at this moment humbly and rightfully expect receptive listeners from the Select Board who will show a courteous demeanor, a recognition of their taking the time and making an effort to use this forum, and a mutual respect for their concerns. 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). 392 likes. Anchor Restaurant - OPEN - SERVING LUNCH & DINNER 12-8pm! 1:00 At the time, I worked for a small family-owned company that required me to travel extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. Your support is even more critical during rapidly changing times, when communication is paramount. The network has the potential to be expanded in the future, according to a board member from Town Manager Audra Caler. Trust me, we dont come here for attention, a therapy session, or to receive an ATTA BOY! Offices on the ballot Below is a list of Maine elections covered by Ballotpedia in 2023. We should always have a backup plan. Camden has always benefited from this type of investment and it is sometimes a positive thing, helping to keep Camdens tax rate low in comparison to other towns and creating many jobs in the process. What are the three most pressing issues facing Camden today, and how would you like to see them resolved? 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. We say we want a vibrant downtown with young people and fresh ideas but were crafting rules that make it illegal to sit on the village green and play the guitar past 11pm. Historically, from the earliest days of settlement, the downtown was a place for activity and noise was understood as a byproduct of life. Those words consideration orreconsideration were at the heart and soul of the Town Charter, and those two functions were anathema to the Select Board. THE PUB - OPEN - Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm + Dinner 5-9pm. Deck Bar & Grill OPEN TODAY - LUNCH & DINNER from 11:30AM-8PM! However, I wanted data to be my guide, and not make a decision based just on my feelings about the building. The second concern is the desire to remove Montgomery Dam to restore Megunticook River as a vibrant ecosystem supporting freshwater spawning from alewives, salmon and other fish species that balance the presence of those types of fish. I am wary of greenwashing and the tendency to settle on measures that make us feel good without offering a quantified reduction in emissions. Where the mountains meet the sea. The great thing about Camden is its diversity. The University of Maine Hutchinson Center, Belfasts Open Garden Days to explore in-town garden of couple with decades of experience, Camden Garden Club holds opening reception for retrospective exhibit Celebrate Gardening: Cultivating a Community, Thomaston churches to hold combined yard sale, July 1, First Church in Belfast Summer fair to be held July 8, Rockport Masonic Center free lawn concert July 5, Camden Yacht Club to host free public evening of seafaring stories, July 5, Celebrate the 4th of July in style at OHTMs American Dream Machines event, The Little Prince read by the actor Aurlien Recoing, I Paint My Life - a lecture by Victoria Browning Wyeth. I have lived in Camden for nearly 18 years, having moved my family from California with the goal of raising our son in a community where people look out for one another and friendships are determined not by how you treat your possessions, but by how you treat others. An incredible, long-standing public servant named Madeleine Albright, a Secretary of State and U.S. Feel free to contact me with quest Seeking reelection are Robert Falciani and Alison McKellar, while Peter Lindquist has also entered the race. I have struggled with these questions more this time around than I did three years ago when I ran for the Select Board. 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. Camden often appears to be teetering on the brink of a real estate and vacation based economy. How do you see Camden positioned in the larger regional Midcoast economy? What municipal committee would you like to be a liaison to, and why? In roughly 90-days, I was convinced based on the data learned through the process of working on this committee, keeping the building as a part of the community through renovation was the best recommendation we could make to the school board. My wife and I usually take a walk each Saturday that starts at the harbor and wraps around the neighborhoods on Chestnut Street. ), These so-called proposed related Amendments served to align the Town Charter with Camdens move to the secret ballot. 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 house is torn down and replaced and before you know it, its on the market for $600,000 or more. But, now, with 2023s Election Day not far off, wouldnt it be a good idea for Camdens voters to look back at what legislative powers they might unwittingly have relinquished back on June 14, nearly a year ago? We practice to make sure we get our ideas across clearly and succinctly and we are frequently very nervous standing up in a crowd in front of the Select Board. The pro-forma in the attached feasibility report posits that Camden will pay the entire cost of the build-out, with revenue and expenses for the network modelled on this assumption. 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 democratic process: Camdens form of government provides so many opportunities for public input that people have a hard time following along and knowing when to show up. 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 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. We can choose who we want to represent us, but after that, we either live with the decisions they make, or we vote them out. I dont believe there is a simple solution and the current environment makes it even more challenging. And, three candidates are competing for two open seats on the School Administrative District 28/Five Town CSD school boards. 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. I went into the process skeptical the building should be preserved. Flooding in Harbor Park and the Public Landing appear to be more directly tied to rising sea levels than Montgomery Dam. Stephanie French. Every meeting I attend bears witness to citizens taking part in the democratic process. 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. All of these issues are more complex than the format allows and I. I enjoy being a Select Board member because I am constantly learning something new and seeing our town in different ways. 12:00 PM, August 24, 2022 In 2013, Camden voters approved a $2 million bond to complement a $4.5 million private fundraising effort to fund a redevelopment project at the Camden Snow Bowl, including the construction of a new lodge. Just feeling competent in the basics can take up most of your time if you are serious about understanding everything. But, as matters now stand, we no longer have our traditional annual town meeting in Camdens Opera House. Robert Lawson is running against Stephanie French for the two-year seat.
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