Thumbs up to all those who turned out to vote for school and municipal budgets this week, along with local elections and other town issues. Whether a town has ballot voting or a show-of-hands Town Meeting, participation is the key to democracy. Town leaders need to know the will of the people so they can make informed decisions that set the town or school district in the right direction.
We’re glad to see the school budgets approved this year in Biddeford and Regional School Unit 23, without the delays that occurred last year when voters rejected the budgets multiple times, leading to planning problems in the school departments. While school boards and municipal leaders do need to heed voters’ concerns about rising taxes, taxpayers are also coming to realize how many costs cannot be controlled locally, and the improved understanding of the process is leading to better decisions.
Thumbs up to the man who found a bronze airplane emblem in his father’s garage and had the presence of mind to bring it to the Biddeford Municipal Airport. That’s where Maine Aviation Historical Society member Loren Harmon identified it as the missing piece of a plaque in Old Orchard Beach that commemorates the town’s place in aviation history. Whatever the circumstances of the emblem’s disappearance in the 1970s, we’re glad to see it back in its rightful place and the Veterans Memorial Park plaque rededicated. The emblem depicts “The Spirit of St. Louis,” the plane flown by Charles Lindbergh that landed in Old Orchard Beach in 1927. Now that it’s back in town and the site of the memorial has been cleared, we hope more people will visit it and learn about moments in aviation that happened right there.
Thumbs down to the continued conspiracy theories in Old Orchard Beach. Even after six of the seven councilors were recalled Tuesday, controversy swirled Friday over when their replacements would be sworn in. Council Vice Chairwoman Laura Bolduc had sought to delay the inauguration of the new town council, originally slated for Tuesday, June 18 before the council meeting, until the following week to avoid complications that could arise from the results of a recount. Councilor Michael Coleman was recalled by only 11 votes and is therefore seeking a recount, with a Tuesday deadline to submit his request. Bolduc was clearly trying to avoid confusion and complications that would arise if his elected replacement, Kenny Blow, is sworn in this week and the recount then shows that Coleman has actually retained his seat. Coleman, however, sent out a press release Friday accusing Bolduc of suggesting the delay as an attempt to “hold onto power.” In response, the new councilors are now being sworn in today. It’s a sad state of affairs in this seaside town when, even after the recall, a councilor is being accused of thwarting the will of voters. The delay was called “suspicious” by some, since the budget process wraps up June 30, but it seems to us that Bolduc was simply trying to make sure the final, accepted election results were in before the town moves on to a nearly clean slate of councilors. The dispute over the recalled councilors was in relation to their removal of former Town Manager Mark Pearson, not their handling of the budget process, and it actually seems to make more sense to close out that process with those who have been involved with it to this point. It’s time for the backbiting and animosity to end in Old Orchard Beach, and for the town to turn a new page once this council is seated.
Thumbs up to the news that La Kermesse is going to be mostly free this year, with no charge for entrance to the fairgrounds at Mechanics Park in Biddeford. Those who want to enjoy the best entertainment ”“ like live country and Franco music, the Kermesse Idol competition and Beatle Mania, as well as a Roman Catholic Mass and crepe breakfast ”“ will have to get tickets, of course, but the festival will undoubtedly be boosted by having the vendors and carnival rides open to everyone. Performances on the World Stage will also be free, and this open concept will certainly give the festival a stronger community feel than in recent years. Kudos to all the volunteers who are reviving this event that celebrates Biddeford’s identity.
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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you want to respond, feel free to write to the Readers’ Forum via email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.
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