Thumbs up to Sanford Town Councilor Bradford Littlefield’s suggestion that the councilors take pay cuts of a largely symbolic $200. The town is proposing to slash 13 jobs, some currently filled and some not, in an effort to avoid a major tax increase. Councilor Anne Marie Mastraccio certainly has a point when she says councilors deserve to be compensated for their time, but anyone who serves on a board should realize that it is largely a public service with only a small stipend as compensation. When the majority of the board is calling for a zero percent increase in taxes, which results in several town employees losing their jobs, the least the councilors could do is take a small share of the hit.
Thumbs up to those who participated in the Regional School Unit 21 public hearing last week, to share their concerns about the upcoming budget. Despite the emotional nature of teacher cuts and tax hikes, nearly everyone has been civil when expressing their disapproval of various cuts or the buyout of the Thornton Academy Middle School contract. The relationship is certainly strained between all the RSU 21 towns ”“ Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel ”“ but all should be applauded for keeping the tone appropriate and getting involved in the process.
Thumbs up to the proposal in Old Orchard Beach to formalize the way meetings are chosen for broadcast on the local cable access channel. The town charter requires the town to record council meetings, but there is no set policy for the council’s workshops or other town meetings. Councilor Robin Dayton is wise to request that a policy be written to determine how limited air time and recording space is divvied up amongst all town entities and the Regional School Unit. Such a policy will prevent hard feelings in the future and those that don’t make it on air could certainly be podcast or streamed online.
Thumbs up and best wishes to Darlene Stromstad, president and CEO of Goodall Hospital in Sanford, who will be moving on to a post in Connecticut at the end of May. During her tenure in Sanford, Stromstad was instrumental in working toward getting the Medicare reimbursements that were due to the hospital, and she kept her word that employee benefits and pay would be restored after cuts made during the height of the 2010 recession. Her leadership at the town’s biggest employer will be missed, and we hope someone equally as dedicated will be found to take the position.
Thumbs up to all the teachers and other organizers who have participated in the recent student art shows in York County. The recent RSU 23 show at the Saco Museum/Dyer Library was a grand success, as was the district-wide art shows in Biddeford and Wells-Ogunquit his past week. Compiling artwork from every student in the district is no small feat and arranging it in an exhibit is another job altogether. All of those who pulled it together should be applauded for giving students this opportunity to experience the excitement and pride of having their work seen and appreciated by the public.
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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.
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