ELECTION AND TOWN MEETING

            In Punxatawney, Pennsylvania the groundhog makes his appearance once a year and spring is determined depending on whether or not he sees his shadow.   In Shapleigh, we see the annual election and town meeting as an indicator of spring arriving.  Certainly with the grounds becoming bare from the warmer weather and heavy rains of recent weeks it is beginning to look more like spring.  Spring plants are beginning to push their leaves up through the soil ready to herald a new season. 

            Election of town officials and officers is being held on Friday, March 12 at the Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.  A number of folks have already obtained absentee ballots since they will be unable to go to the polls on the assigned day.  Contests exist in two positions; that of Treasurer with Michelle Romney challenging incumbent Bridget Lister; and that of Selectman with Scott Cudworth seeking to unseat incumbent Ruth S. Ham.  All other positions list candidates who although unopposed are running for office.

            Town meeting will be held at the Shapleigh Memorial School the next day on Saturday, March 13 beginning at 10 a.m.  The remainder of the 63 articles in the town meeting warrant will be acted upon by registered Shapleigh voters at that time.  Anyone who has not yet picked up a town report, which contains the warrant as a centerfold, should do so in order to be informed and prepared to vote.  The action on these articles will govern how the town will be run for the ensuing year.  Town reports are available at Boonies, Country Quick Stop, Shapleigh Corner Store, Shapleigh Community Library and the Town Hall.

            General Government, Public Safety, Public Works, Recreation, Conservation, Community Forest, Library, Social Services, and Miscellaneous are some of the various categories that will be voted upon.  Many are the standard articles that appear each year.

            One topic which is new is the Emery Mills and Square Pond Dams including a proposed Interlocal Agreement with the town of Sanford and Acton and money articles related to the dams.

            A new scholarship is being proposed by the Shapleigh Community Day Committee to encourage further education not only for high school students after graduation but also for adults who may wish to take courses.

            The Library Trustees are asking the voters to approve funds for the commencement of construction of the addition to the present Community Library this year rather than waiting until next year to complete the fundraising.

            The Budget Committee and the Board of Selectmen are focusing on funds for the Public Works Facility on Route 11 across from Boonies and authority to spend money to get moving on this project which has been in the works for a long time.  The site has been cleared this past year in preparation for moving forward.  This facility will put the town in compliance for the storage of winter road salt and sand.  The current site on the easterly side of Route 11 just before the Transfer Station has been in use for many years and does not have the ecological safeguards that will be present in the future site.  Also, there is an agreement with a neighboring property owner for ingress and egress which will soon be concluded so it is important that the town have the new facility up and ready when that time comes.

A number of roads are listed for work during 2010: 

 These are dependent on funds being approved by the voters.

   Registered voters are encouraged to get out and vote.  This is your opportunity to make decisions which will affect how your town functions over the next year.

Also, residents are encouraged to consider volunteering for any of the many opportunities available to serve your town.  Emergency Services, Fire and Rescue, are always looking for new members.  There is also a need for persons to serve in other capacities.  FMI contact the Executive Secretary at 636-2843 ext 401.

  The voters are being asked to raise and appropriate considerably fewer dollars for 2010 than for the previous year 2009.  Total assessment requested in the current 2010 budget is $1,418,334.00 as compared to $1,511,478.00 in the previous year for 2009.

LUNCH IS SERVED

 Voters attending Town Meeting at the Shapleigh Memorial School need not pack a lunch or go home to eat during break since the 4-H Four Leaf Clover Club will be making lunch available right there in the School Commons.  Steamed hotdogs with all the fixings, hot stew, beverages and desserts will all be available for a modest price.   This is one of the major fundraisers for these youth’s club so please plan to encourage them with your patronage.

 ROAD POSTINGS

Weather conditions are such that both Shapleigh road commissioners, David Winchell Sr. of the northern district and Richard E. Goodwin Sr. of the southern district, have posted local roads.  This posting prohibits trucks with heavy loads from being driven over the roads during “mud season” when their weight would cause severe damage to the existing roadways which are already suffering from the effects of the winter.  Most logging contractors, building contractors, and others who would be traversing the Shapleigh roads hauling heavy equipment, etc. had been notified prior to the posting. 

Generally, the postings will remain up until May 1, 2010 or until such time as the ground below the road becomes dry and firm.  Any questions regarding the lifting of the weight restrictions should be directed to either road commissioner or (207) 636-2843 ext 401.

WARNING

York County Emergency Management Agency (YCEMA) Deputy Director Joyce Kelley has notified towns throughout York County that contractors have been soliciting business from property owners while representing themselves as being connected with YCEMA.  This is not true but is merely a fabrication designed to help them obtain work cleaning up or making repairs after storms have damaged property.  Do not be tricked by falsehoods into doing business with these companies.  

CANDIDATES NIGHT

All the various candidates running for office, except those who were vacationing outside of Maine, took part in the Candidates’ Night hosted by the Board of Selectmen.  The duration of the meeting was two hours so ample time was given to questions directed to the candidates for their replies.  Thank you to all the townspeople who attended and took part in the “getting to know you” session in order to better cast their votes on Friday, March 12, 2010 at the Shapleigh Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m..

REMINDER

The annual town meeting will be held at the Shapleigh Memorial School on Route 11 on Saturday, March 13, 2010.  The moderator will bring the meeting to order at 10 a.m. with the banging of the gavel on the podium.

STORM DAMAGE

The recent storm caused considerable damage to the Murray Road, the Ross Corner Road, Garland Road, County Road, and more.  All such matters were resolved by the Road Commissioners and their crews.

Loss of electric power was another inconvenience caused by the storm.  In certain sections of the town downed trees caused power outages, some of which lasted until Sunday night.  Fortunately the Town Hall was spared so the TownClerk/Tax Collector and other officials and employees could continue to serve the citizens of Shapleigh.

SAVE THIS BOOK

            The Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife has published and made available to Town Clerks the Maine Open Water and Ice Fishing Laws and Rules in a brochure form.  In a cost-saving effort, the laws and rules have been combined in this book will be effective for two full years, April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2012.   Persons who obtain a law and rule book are asked to retain it for the two year period because MDIFW is printing only enough for each angler to have one.  The law and rule books are available at the Town Hall.  The books are also available online so individuals can print out as many copies as they like or just print off the pages that pertain to your favorite fishing spot. 

Many of the Special Rules Codes (S-Codes) have changed and the listing of them appears on page 7.

Free Family Fishing Days are listed in the brochure.  May 29 and May 30, 2010 are scheduled for this year.  On those special days any person (except those whose license has been suspended or revoked) may fish without a license.  All other laws and regulations apply on Free Family Fishing Days.

FMI go to www.mefishwildlife.com or call (207) 287-8000.

COUNTY CHARTER COMMISSION

The York County Manager has notified the Board of Selectmen, as well as all the head officials within York County, that York County has begun the process to develop a charter commission.  A step by step process necessary for the County to adopt a county charter was also enclosed in the letter.  These procedures outline the important steps required by Shapleigh or any other municipality in York County for the development of the charter commission.  The process will allow the item to be placed on each city and town’s November ballot for a vote by the residents of Shapleigh and all of York County. 

Six voter members must be elected to the charter commissioner, one from each District in York County and one elected at-large.  Persons interested must be nominated by petition on a form provided by the Secretary of State and must be nominated without party designation. 

Nominating petitions may be obtained from the Division of the Secretary of State in Augusta Maine.  When submitted, the petitions must contain the names of only one candidate, his/her place of residence and consent, along with at least 50 but not more than 80 voters. 

Petitions must be presented to the registrar or town clerk for certification by May 25, 2010 and then filed with the Secretary of State by June 1, 1010. 

Any town official or interested residents of Shapleigh are encouraged to contact the Executive Secretary at the Town Hall (207) 636-2843 ext 401, the County Commissioners (207)459-2313  or the Secretary of State’s Office (207)626-8400 for further information.

2010 CENSUS

Representatives of the U.S. Census Bureau have been conducting classes at the Shapleigh Town Hall for the last two weeks. Being trained for jobs with the Census Bureau, the applicants and trainees will be well-prepared to conduct whatever work they may be assigned to complete for the U.S. government during the 2010 Census at the conclusion of the training.  Persons who may be interested in working during the census process may still apply if they so choose since the 2010 Census will require a multitude of persons to complete the task.

BENEFIT BREAKFAST

The CLAY Youth Group of the First Baptist Church at Shapleigh Corner will be having a fundraising Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant on Lower Main Street, Sanford on Saturday, March 20 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.  A group of teens will be traveling as part of a larger group of youth to Namibia in Africa this summer as a missionary team.  Sponsored by the Triangle Community Church in South Carolina, the Namibia trip will expose all of these young persons to the conditions which many of the world citizens live under and perhaps will even “light their fire” to become missionaries and work with the less fortunate, leading them to Christ by setting an example of Christ-like behavior while living amongst them in their countries.

The members of CLAY Youth Group are seeking to come up with an assortment of different fundraising events in the coming weeks to cover the cost of transportation and other aspects of the trip.

Thank you in advance for participating in the Pancake Breakfast fundraiser.

FOOD PANTRY

Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon the Food Pantry operated by the Baptist Church at Shapleigh Corner on Route 11 provides food for needy families of Shapleigh.  If you or anyone you know of needs food stop down back at the lower level of the church during the designated day and time.  FMI call Ruth Ham weekdays at 636-2843 ext 406.

 ELECTION AND TOWN MEETING

        In Punxatawney, Pennsylvania the groundhog makes his appearance once a year and spring is determined depending on whether or not he sees his shadow.   In Shapleigh, we see the annual election and town meeting as an indicator of spring arriving.  Certainly with the grounds becoming bare from the warmer weather and heavy rains of recent weeks it is beginning to look more like spring.  Spring plants are beginning to push their leaves up through the soil ready to herald a new season. 

      Election of town officials and officers is being held on Friday, March 12 at the Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.  A number of folks have already obtained absentee ballots since they will be unable to go to the polls on the assigned day.  Contests exist in two positions; that of Treasurer with Michelle Romney challenging incumbent Bridget Lister; and that of Selectman with Scott Cudworth seeking to unseat incumbent Ruth S. Ham.  All other positions list candidates who although unopposed are running for office.

     Town meeting will be held at the Shapleigh Memorial School the next day on Saturday, March 13 beginning at 10 a.m.  The remainder of the 63 articles in the town meeting warrant will be acted upon by registered Shapleigh voters at that time.  Anyone who has not yet picked up a town report, which contains the warrant as a centerfold, should do so in order to be informed and prepared to vote.  The action on these articles will govern how the town will be run for the ensuing year.  Town reports are available at Boonies, Country Quick Stop, Shapleigh Corner Store, Shapleigh Community Library and the Town Hall.

       General Government, Public Safety, Public Works, Recreation, Conservation, Community Forest, Library, Social Services, and Miscellaneous are some of the various categories that will be voted upon.  Many are the standard articles that appear each year.

       One topic which is new is the Emery Mills and Square Pond Dams including a proposed Interlocal Agreement with the town of Sanford and Acton and money articles related to the dams.

      A new scholarship is being proposed by the Shapleigh Community Day Committee to encourage further education not only for high school students after graduation but also for adults who may wish to take courses.

      The Library Trustees are asking the voters to approve funds for the commencement of construction of the addition to the present Community Library this year rather than waiting until next year to complete the fundraising.

       The Budget Committee and the Board of Selectmen are focusing on funds for the Public Works Facility on Route 11 across from Boonies and authority to spend money to get moving on this project which has been in the works for a long time.  The site has been cleared this past year in preparation for moving forward.  This facility will put the town in compliance for the storage of winter road salt and sand.  The current site on the easterly side of Route 11 just before the Transfer Station has been in use for many years and does not have the ecological safeguards that will be present in the future site.  Also, there is an agreement with a neighboring property owner for ingress and egress which will soon be concluded so it is important that the town have the new facility up and ready when that time comes.

 A number of roads are listed for work during 2010: 

        Registered voters are encouraged to get out and vote.  This is your opportunity to make decisions which will affect how your town functions over the next year.

       Also, residents are encouraged to consider volunteering for any of the many opportunities available to serve your town.  Emergency Services, Fire and Rescue, are always looking for new members.  There is also a need for persons to serve in other capacities.  FMI contact the Executive Secretary at 636-2843 ext 401.

       The voters are being asked to raise and appropriate considerably fewer dollars for 2010 than for the previous year 2009.  Total assessment requested in the current 2010 budget is $1,418,334.00 as compared to $1,511,478.00 in the previous year for 2009.

 LUNCH IS SERVED

       Voters attending Town Meeting at the Shapleigh Memorial School need not pack a lunch or go home to eat during break since the 4-H Four Leaf Clover Club will be making lunch available right there in the School Commons.  Steamed hotdogs with all the fixings, hot stew, beverages and desserts will all be available for a modest price.   This is one of the major fundraisers for these youth’s club so please plan to encourage them with your patronage.