This Week's Letters
Babine reflects on recent election
Editor:
You all may have guessed that I am disappointed by the results from Election Day. But, my grandmother once told me that being thankful enables us to overcome our losses instead of being overcome by them. And, although victory escaped us, I am proud of the endeavor and our effort. The results just didn’t go our way this time. For this Thanksgiving season I am truly thankful for you. To those citizens who voted for me, thank you so much for your continued confidence and trust and for those of you just aren’t sure yet, you have given me time to work harder and prove myself and I thank you as well. My loss gives me two years to continue our work on the Town Council – work that requires us to find solutions that help in reducing the burden of taxes on our families, yet continue to be challenged in providing higher quality and improved services. I will use this time to work harder.
Our campaign focused on a very simple message – Scarborough and the rest of Maine’s communities deserve to know how we would lower taxes on the middle class, what we would do to improve our educational system, how would we lower health care costs on families and small businesses and how we would make Maine more economically competitive. I am so proud to have been a part of this great effort to change our state. I have met so many people from across Scarborough and the state and have made new friendships and alliances that will last a lifetime. Those friendships along with the memories that have been made cannot be replaced and will not be forgotten.
I want to personally thank Neil Jamieson, John and Christine Massengill, Judy Shirk, the fishermen at Pine Point, Congressman Tom Allen and his staff, my colleagues at TD Banknorth’s corporate office, those for whom I work closely with on the Town Council, Governor John Baldacci, Sean Faircloth, John Richardson and Glenn Cummings. Your support and encouragement has meant a lot to me. The advice and counsel has given me direction to help Scarborough move forward and has provided me with a new energy to continue our work. Thank you and happy Thanksgiving Scarborough!
Shawn Babine
Scarborough
School votes were about ‘tax shock’
Editor:
There was a letter to the editor in the Nov. 17 issue of the Leader suggesting that we citizens of Scarborough who did not vote in favor of the school referendum on Nov. 7 did not hold education to as high a value as did those who voted in favor of the referendum. I have never heard of anything so ludicrous, other than maybe the price tag attached to the referendum.
Sir, do you really think the fastest growing, most lucrative town in Maine does not want the best for their children? But do we really need to build on a grandiose scale like we did and like were planned. Take some time to really look at the high school with its $25 million dollar remodeling job. With its high vaulted ceilings and vast wasted space hallways, as you enter the building one thinks of a museum where you expect to see art hanging. It is one of the most senior unfriendly buildings for the money spent I have ever encountered. We seniors are told this will be a venue for us to use.
Yes, there are many handicap parking spaces, but because of the design of the outside front plaza, it puts them far enough away to make it a very strenuous walk to the front door. I did not notice automatic handicap doors. Once inside, if a senior or seniors are headed to the auditorium as a group of us were the other night, they again must walk a very unconvertible walk to a flight of stairs, with no ramp on that end of the building, or use an elevator next to the stairs which will only hold two wheelchairs and a walker at best. The nearest rest rooms to the auditorium are again a repeat of the same trip back on to the lobby floor. I would love to take a walk through with any member of the School Board or Mr. Doyle and, as a taxpaying senior citizen, have a Q and A to point out the many inadequacies of the high school as a senior citizen venue.
On the proposed building of a new intermediate school and renovating of the middle school, the need was never in question. It was the cost. It was not the citizens of Scarborough who defeated the referendum, it was the poor planning of the school Board and the same was true of the library The planners did not read the tealeaves, did not see the signs and did not hear the messages sent by previous votes and failures. For example, the citizens thought it not wise to spend $1.2 million for a senior center. The renovations of the high school needed so many re-renovations that citizens began to questioned the wisdom of the planning and price tags of these new plans. Then the failure of the “Y” to even get a tote board up and running. A good teacher can teach under an apple tree or in a one-room schoolhouse. By this vote of Nov. 7, the citizens of Scarborough are not being repulsive, they are merely saying “hey, build what we can afford.” Sir, I know if the board took a second look at their planning, they will find a lot of things that can and should be cut from the plans that will have no effect on the quality of education delivered to our children. We all would like to have the best of the best but we plan for and buy what we can afford. It is unfair to chastise the citizens of Scarborough because they are suffering from tax shock.
Bill Billings
Scarborough
Bertsch’s comments are ‘off the mark’
Editor:
Memo to Allison Bertsch: the citizens of Scarborough don't need to be lectured and ridiculed because they didn't vote in favor of the school and library referendum questions. Your assumption that citizens don't value education and library services because of the rejection of the referendum questions is well off the mark.
Since you're a recent graduate of the high school, I don't think it's your place to berate citizens on how to spend their tax dollars since you have yet to pay one dollar in property tax yourself. Using words such as disgraceful, repulsive and narrow-minded to describe our people is, quite frankly, disgraceful. I would like to think that you would be more appreciative of the taxpayers of this community that supported the outstanding education you received here.
Do we value education in Scarborough? Here are a few facts for you to consider. The school budget was $13.3 million in FY97 and increased to $27.1 million in FY07. The budget more than doubled (104 percent) while the enrollment only increased 25 percent during this period. Is this not supportive of education?
A few years ago our citizens approved a $27 million expansion of Scarborough High School. This was the most expensive locally funded project in the history of the state of Maine. In addition, in excess of $20 million was approved in capital improvement projects for the school system over the last 10 years. Is this not supportive of education?
There are economic realities to every decision made concerning the expenditure of taxpayer funds. Our debt was $35 million in FY 03 and escalated to $69 million in FY 06. Maybe folks voted no because they didn't want to add $55 million to an already high amount of debt or because it would have cost the average homeowner $8,200 over the term of the bonds.
Maybe folks voted no because they didn't think it was prudent to tear down an existing facility and replace it with a new building at nearly double the size even though capacity wasn't an issue. Maybe folks voted no because the square feet per student number was excessively high in comparison with other recently built schools in Maine, therefore adding significantly to the cost. Maybe folks would be supportive of a more modest proposal that meets the needs without breaking the bank or maybe they would rather wait a few more years in hopes of obtaining some state funding to lessen the burden on the local taxpayer.
The same economic realities hold true for the library as well. The library budget has had generous increases over the past decade. That citizens didn't want to spend an additional $7 million to double the size of the library, as well as to renovate all existing space in a building that is only 16 years old, is by no means evidence that the town doesn't value the library.
There isn't an unlimited pool of taxpayer money to fund every project that comes along. You may be surprised to know that there are many people in our community on low and fixed income that struggle to pay their taxes. It's a fact that Maine has the highest tax burden in the country. All of these variables factor into decisions that folks make when they cast their ballot. There is no question that citizens value education. The question is at what cost. You don't need a Corvette when a Chevrolet will fill the same need.
Jeffrey Messer
Scarborough Town Council
Pendleton thanks residents, opponents
Editor:
I would like to thank the residents of Scarborough’s Legislative District 128 for participating in the voting process on November seventh. It is a humbling experience to be elected by your peers for the honor to serve in the Maine State Legislature.
I would also like to thank my opponents for being willing to sacrifice their time and energy to campaign. I am proud of how our race was conducted. We all worked hard and we focused on the issues that are important to the constituents of District 128.
As an elected official it is my job to listen to your concerns and opinions and will always have my door open to you. Thank you again for your participation and support. I can be reached at rpendle1@maine.rr.com or by phone at 883-5414.
Peggy Pendleton
Scarborough
Project G.R.A.C.E. thanks the community
Editor:
The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on the year past, what we are thankful for and the year ahead. I’d like to share a call that came into our office during the past year I soon won’t forget.
It’s a Friday morning, the phone rings; a Project G.R.A.C.E. volunteer warmly greets the caller. It’s a call from a Scarborough resident who is raising her grandchildren and is out of heating oil. She wants to know what Project G.R.A.C.E. does – and could we help her. After an in-depth conversation and careful screening process, the volunteer lets the caller know the good news – Project G.R.A.C.E. will fill her oil tank. The caller sighs with relief and is thankful for the offer.
This is just one example of the calls the volunteers at Project G.R.A.C.E. receive on a weekly basis. The Project G.R.A.C.E. organization is available to help many in need due to the generosity of the community we live in.
On behalf of all the volunteers, the board of directors and the recipients who accept our services, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supports our organization! We are thankful for the generosity, thoughtfulness and support throughout the year. Without you, we couldn’t do what we like to do everyday…help others.
At this time we are also pleased to report our first ever fuel drive challenge has been an incredible success! We are thrilled to announce that we have surpassed our $10,000 goal! Thank you to the following contributors: Eddie Woodin, Tom Wilson Memorial Gifts, Classic Eyewear, the Hyman Foundation, gifts in Memory of Glenn C. Johnson, Prout’s Neck Community Grant Association, Pine Tree Waste Systems, FCR Goodman, Scarborough Lions Club, Scarborough Downs, PCS of Scarborough, Scarborough Paramedics Association, First Congregational Church, David and Linda Kerstein, Dr. Mark Diamond DDS, Making Waves Cut-A-Thon, John Packhem, Richard Roussin, Jim and Kathryn Elkins, John and Marilyn Taylor, Shirley Corse, Alan Cardinal and Sylvia Most, Ardeth and Nelson Harmon, Michael and Susan Carter and Gerard Bianco.
From our hearts to your homes – happy holidays! We are truly grateful for your support and generosity!
Hope Taggart
Executive Director
Project G.R.A.C.E.
Editor:
You all may have guessed that I am disappointed by the results from Election Day. But, my grandmother once told me that being thankful enables us to overcome our losses instead of being overcome by them. And, although victory escaped us, I am proud of the endeavor and our effort. The results just didn’t go our way this time. For this Thanksgiving season I am truly thankful for you. To those citizens who voted for me, thank you so much for your continued confidence and trust and for those of you just aren’t sure yet, you have given me time to work harder and prove myself and I thank you as well. My loss gives me two years to continue our work on the Town Council – work that requires us to find solutions that help in reducing the burden of taxes on our families, yet continue to be challenged in providing higher quality and improved services. I will use this time to work harder.
Our campaign focused on a very simple message – Scarborough and the rest of Maine’s communities deserve to know how we would lower taxes on the middle class, what we would do to improve our educational system, how would we lower health care costs on families and small businesses and how we would make Maine more economically competitive. I am so proud to have been a part of this great effort to change our state. I have met so many people from across Scarborough and the state and have made new friendships and alliances that will last a lifetime. Those friendships along with the memories that have been made cannot be replaced and will not be forgotten.
I want to personally thank Neil Jamieson, John and Christine Massengill, Judy Shirk, the fishermen at Pine Point, Congressman Tom Allen and his staff, my colleagues at TD Banknorth’s corporate office, those for whom I work closely with on the Town Council, Governor John Baldacci, Sean Faircloth, John Richardson and Glenn Cummings. Your support and encouragement has meant a lot to me. The advice and counsel has given me direction to help Scarborough move forward and has provided me with a new energy to continue our work. Thank you and happy Thanksgiving Scarborough!
Shawn Babine
Scarborough
School votes were about ‘tax shock’
Editor:
There was a letter to the editor in the Nov. 17 issue of the Leader suggesting that we citizens of Scarborough who did not vote in favor of the school referendum on Nov. 7 did not hold education to as high a value as did those who voted in favor of the referendum. I have never heard of anything so ludicrous, other than maybe the price tag attached to the referendum.
Sir, do you really think the fastest growing, most lucrative town in Maine does not want the best for their children? But do we really need to build on a grandiose scale like we did and like were planned. Take some time to really look at the high school with its $25 million dollar remodeling job. With its high vaulted ceilings and vast wasted space hallways, as you enter the building one thinks of a museum where you expect to see art hanging. It is one of the most senior unfriendly buildings for the money spent I have ever encountered. We seniors are told this will be a venue for us to use.
Yes, there are many handicap parking spaces, but because of the design of the outside front plaza, it puts them far enough away to make it a very strenuous walk to the front door. I did not notice automatic handicap doors. Once inside, if a senior or seniors are headed to the auditorium as a group of us were the other night, they again must walk a very unconvertible walk to a flight of stairs, with no ramp on that end of the building, or use an elevator next to the stairs which will only hold two wheelchairs and a walker at best. The nearest rest rooms to the auditorium are again a repeat of the same trip back on to the lobby floor. I would love to take a walk through with any member of the School Board or Mr. Doyle and, as a taxpaying senior citizen, have a Q and A to point out the many inadequacies of the high school as a senior citizen venue.
On the proposed building of a new intermediate school and renovating of the middle school, the need was never in question. It was the cost. It was not the citizens of Scarborough who defeated the referendum, it was the poor planning of the school Board and the same was true of the library The planners did not read the tealeaves, did not see the signs and did not hear the messages sent by previous votes and failures. For example, the citizens thought it not wise to spend $1.2 million for a senior center. The renovations of the high school needed so many re-renovations that citizens began to questioned the wisdom of the planning and price tags of these new plans. Then the failure of the “Y” to even get a tote board up and running. A good teacher can teach under an apple tree or in a one-room schoolhouse. By this vote of Nov. 7, the citizens of Scarborough are not being repulsive, they are merely saying “hey, build what we can afford.” Sir, I know if the board took a second look at their planning, they will find a lot of things that can and should be cut from the plans that will have no effect on the quality of education delivered to our children. We all would like to have the best of the best but we plan for and buy what we can afford. It is unfair to chastise the citizens of Scarborough because they are suffering from tax shock.
Bill Billings
Scarborough
Bertsch’s comments are ‘off the mark’
Editor:
Memo to Allison Bertsch: the citizens of Scarborough don't need to be lectured and ridiculed because they didn't vote in favor of the school and library referendum questions. Your assumption that citizens don't value education and library services because of the rejection of the referendum questions is well off the mark.
Since you're a recent graduate of the high school, I don't think it's your place to berate citizens on how to spend their tax dollars since you have yet to pay one dollar in property tax yourself. Using words such as disgraceful, repulsive and narrow-minded to describe our people is, quite frankly, disgraceful. I would like to think that you would be more appreciative of the taxpayers of this community that supported the outstanding education you received here.
Do we value education in Scarborough? Here are a few facts for you to consider. The school budget was $13.3 million in FY97 and increased to $27.1 million in FY07. The budget more than doubled (104 percent) while the enrollment only increased 25 percent during this period. Is this not supportive of education?
A few years ago our citizens approved a $27 million expansion of Scarborough High School. This was the most expensive locally funded project in the history of the state of Maine. In addition, in excess of $20 million was approved in capital improvement projects for the school system over the last 10 years. Is this not supportive of education?
There are economic realities to every decision made concerning the expenditure of taxpayer funds. Our debt was $35 million in FY 03 and escalated to $69 million in FY 06. Maybe folks voted no because they didn't want to add $55 million to an already high amount of debt or because it would have cost the average homeowner $8,200 over the term of the bonds.
Maybe folks voted no because they didn't think it was prudent to tear down an existing facility and replace it with a new building at nearly double the size even though capacity wasn't an issue. Maybe folks voted no because the square feet per student number was excessively high in comparison with other recently built schools in Maine, therefore adding significantly to the cost. Maybe folks would be supportive of a more modest proposal that meets the needs without breaking the bank or maybe they would rather wait a few more years in hopes of obtaining some state funding to lessen the burden on the local taxpayer.
The same economic realities hold true for the library as well. The library budget has had generous increases over the past decade. That citizens didn't want to spend an additional $7 million to double the size of the library, as well as to renovate all existing space in a building that is only 16 years old, is by no means evidence that the town doesn't value the library.
There isn't an unlimited pool of taxpayer money to fund every project that comes along. You may be surprised to know that there are many people in our community on low and fixed income that struggle to pay their taxes. It's a fact that Maine has the highest tax burden in the country. All of these variables factor into decisions that folks make when they cast their ballot. There is no question that citizens value education. The question is at what cost. You don't need a Corvette when a Chevrolet will fill the same need.
Jeffrey Messer
Scarborough Town Council
Pendleton thanks residents, opponents
Editor:
I would like to thank the residents of Scarborough’s Legislative District 128 for participating in the voting process on November seventh. It is a humbling experience to be elected by your peers for the honor to serve in the Maine State Legislature.
I would also like to thank my opponents for being willing to sacrifice their time and energy to campaign. I am proud of how our race was conducted. We all worked hard and we focused on the issues that are important to the constituents of District 128.
As an elected official it is my job to listen to your concerns and opinions and will always have my door open to you. Thank you again for your participation and support. I can be reached at rpendle1@maine.rr.com or by phone at 883-5414.
Peggy Pendleton
Scarborough
Project G.R.A.C.E. thanks the community
Editor:
The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on the year past, what we are thankful for and the year ahead. I’d like to share a call that came into our office during the past year I soon won’t forget.
It’s a Friday morning, the phone rings; a Project G.R.A.C.E. volunteer warmly greets the caller. It’s a call from a Scarborough resident who is raising her grandchildren and is out of heating oil. She wants to know what Project G.R.A.C.E. does – and could we help her. After an in-depth conversation and careful screening process, the volunteer lets the caller know the good news – Project G.R.A.C.E. will fill her oil tank. The caller sighs with relief and is thankful for the offer.
This is just one example of the calls the volunteers at Project G.R.A.C.E. receive on a weekly basis. The Project G.R.A.C.E. organization is available to help many in need due to the generosity of the community we live in.
On behalf of all the volunteers, the board of directors and the recipients who accept our services, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supports our organization! We are thankful for the generosity, thoughtfulness and support throughout the year. Without you, we couldn’t do what we like to do everyday…help others.
At this time we are also pleased to report our first ever fuel drive challenge has been an incredible success! We are thrilled to announce that we have surpassed our $10,000 goal! Thank you to the following contributors: Eddie Woodin, Tom Wilson Memorial Gifts, Classic Eyewear, the Hyman Foundation, gifts in Memory of Glenn C. Johnson, Prout’s Neck Community Grant Association, Pine Tree Waste Systems, FCR Goodman, Scarborough Lions Club, Scarborough Downs, PCS of Scarborough, Scarborough Paramedics Association, First Congregational Church, David and Linda Kerstein, Dr. Mark Diamond DDS, Making Waves Cut-A-Thon, John Packhem, Richard Roussin, Jim and Kathryn Elkins, John and Marilyn Taylor, Shirley Corse, Alan Cardinal and Sylvia Most, Ardeth and Nelson Harmon, Michael and Susan Carter and Gerard Bianco.
From our hearts to your homes – happy holidays! We are truly grateful for your support and generosity!
Hope Taggart
Executive Director
Project G.R.A.C.E.
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