MILLINOCKET, Maine — The School Committee has threatened to sue the Town Council if the schools don’t get $158,000 in unbudgeted state Sudden and Severe Impact funds, the town’s attorney said Tuesday.
Superintendent Kenneth Smith cited the Town Charter and state laws in issuing the threat to sue in a letter dated Oct. 25, attorney Dean Beaupain said in a memo to councilors. Town Manager Eugene Conlogue released Beaupain’s memo Tuesday morning.
Beaupain advised councilors not to honor Smith’s request for the Sudden and Severe Impact funds, which typically go to municipalities such as Millinocket that suffer vast drops in tax funding. Millinocket’s loss occurred with the devaluation of the town paper mill over the past year.
“Any allegation that the Millinocket Town Council has violated the charter in adopting or funding the school budget has no basis in the charter or state law,” Beaupain wrote.
“Should the school board actually sue the town for these funds and succeed, the town could direct the school board to reduce its fiscal 2013 budget revenues and appropriations accordingly dollar for dollar. No one is served by such a spectacle,” he added.
It was unclear whether town officials had already received the funds. Councilors and committee members will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in special session at Stearns High School to discuss the funding dispute.
Smith commented briefly via email before the meeting.
“The school department provided the town with a legal opinion as well as additional relevant citations. This is a legal matter which should be addressed by the attorneys representing the parties,” he said.
He did not immediately respond to a request for the legal opinion the school department provided the town.
Dissent between councilors and committee members was apparently sparked, and grew far beyond, the sudden resignation of committee Chairman Arnold Hopkins last month.
Councilors were concerned about rumors that Hopkins, a council favorite, had been rudely treated by fellow committee members during a committee meeting prior to his resignation. The committee meeting was not attended by any newspaper media or personnel from the local-access television station, which usually covers committee meetings.
Hopkins had most recently made the news by saying school leaders had instituted a spending freeze in anticipation of a predicted $140,000 to $150,000 shortfall caused partly by the school system’s failure to meet its goals for tuition-paying Chinese students at Stearns.
The Town Council met Thursday and decided to send to the committee a list of about 13 matters for discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.
The issues, Conlogue said, include: the fiscal-year 2013 school budget parameters; school salary and benefit negotiations; a town property tax freeze; more detailed accounting of federal grants in school budget documents; debt-service payments attached to the installation of a new heating system at Stearns; and retiree health insurance costs.
New committee Chairman Kevin Gregory invited councilors to Tuesday’s meeting. He said it was important that the air be cleared between both boards with the 2011-12 fiscal year about half over and budget deliberations between the committee and council set to begin in a few months.
Under the town charter, the committee controls school spending within a budget that councilors set.
Mr. Smith should resign and leave town!
Hear that giant sucking sound? That is the sound of common sense rapidly departing the Millinocket area and leaving the town in a vacuum. IDIOTS!….and I’m being nice…
I don’t think you have a clue of what your writing about
You are entitled to your opinion…and I would state the same of you..
The whole lot of them need to go…eugene, town council and school board….self serving @#SS&&^%$ is all they are.
Is anyone else in Millinocket outraged at this latest spectacle by our town fathers?
I am beyond outraged!
Do I need to get a third job to pay for this tantrum that Kevin Gregory and his band of thugs are throwing?
interesting how the schools system is now seperate from the municipalitie and they think that every dollar that comes into town belongs to them. The town still establishes the mill rate to fund them and if it doesn’t impact the state mandated funds then they do not have to raise the extra taxes they need
How long is it going to take before the townspeople of Millinocket, smarten up and get rid of this complete id—!!!!
Unfortunately I believe the school comm. is the only one that can do that.
Are you sure he didn’t mean the town manager? sounds like a good idea to me.
I assumed the Supt. since this has more to do with him, and the school.com.
The town council can and probably will take assertive action against the school board very shortly
If the school comm was doing their job they would do something about the head man
Problem is, I think they believe he is a night in shining armor.
Which one?
Which one?
It seems blatant on their part this comes out, just prior to them having a joint meeting. When they say they want to work things out. Looks like the supt. is adding fuel to the fire. My understanding they haven’t even got this years money, and the school comm. already wants it. I guess the school comm. has plenty of money in their legal budget?
I was at the meeting where Millinocket and their school budget were approved by the council and sent to the voters. I heard with my own ears as MANY OTHERS DID… At the very beginning of the meeting… Gene Conologue said – My connection in Augusta has given me his word we will get the S&S money. So, you ( council ) should approve their budget as it is written. We will be able to fund their budget WITH the S&S money. 2 Men from the audience got up and spoke directly to the issue of NOTHING in writing, spending money before you have any confirmation on it. As well as counting on and spending the Chinese money before it was guaranteed in their budget. Both of these men were correct. And the council acting on Gene’s word on the S&S money, and Dr. Smith on the 30 Chinese students he guaranteed!! Well guess what Gene you aren’t getting S&S money. No matter how many times Dr. Smith tells you it’s sitting on LePage’s desk. And Dr. Smith I watched you on KAT the other night. Telling them it’s comin, it’s comin… so is WWIII! And for those of you that didn’t catch the meeting on KAT or in person. Dr. Smith is now PAYING yet again someone to go dig him up students in India! Yea I kid you not.. and no one even objected to the blatent waste of money. And they hired yet another ed tech! So much for the spending freeze. Guess that went out the door with Arnold. The stupidest mistake that town ever made.
I was at the meeting where Millinocket and their school budget were approved by the council and sent to the voters. I heard with my own ears as MANY OTHERS DID… At the very beginning of the meeting… Gene Conologue said – My connection in Augusta has given me his word we will get the S&S money. So, you ( council ) should approve their budget as it is written. We will be able to fund their budget WITH the S&S money. 2 Men from the audience got up and spoke directly to the issue of NOTHING in writing, spending money before you have any confirmation on it. As well as counting on and spending the Chinese money before it was guaranteed in their budget. Both of these men were correct. And the council acting on Gene’s word on the S&S money, and Dr. Smith on the 30 Chinese students he guaranteed!! Well guess what Gene you aren’t getting S&S money. No matter how many times Dr. Smith tells you it’s sitting on LePage’s desk. And Dr. Smith I watched you on KAT the other night. Telling them it’s comin, it’s comin… so is WWIII! And for those of you that didn’t catch the meeting on KAT or in person. Dr. Smith is now PAYING yet again someone to go dig him up students in India! Yea I kid you not.. and no one even objected to the blatent waste of money. And they hired yet another ed tech! So much for the spending freeze. Guess that went out the door with Arnold. The stupidest mistake that town ever made.
We probably had to hire another Ed, Tech because we have alot of unruly and special needs kids in the system.
I was at the meeting where Millinocket and their school budget were approved by the council and sent to the voters. I heard with my own ears as MANY OTHERS DID… At the very beginning of the meeting… Gene Conologue said – My connection in Augusta has given me his word we will get the S&S money. So, you ( council ) should approve their budget as it is written. We will be able to fund their budget WITH the S&S money. 2 Men from the audience got up and spoke directly to the issue of NOTHING in writing, spending money before you have any confirmation on it. As well as counting on and spending the Chinese money before it was guaranteed in their budget. Both of these men were correct. And the council acting on Gene’s word on the S&S money, and Dr. Smith on the 30 Chinese students he guaranteed!! Well guess what Gene you aren’t getting S&S money. No matter how many times Dr. Smith tells you it’s sitting on LePage’s desk. And Dr. Smith I watched you on KAT the other night. Telling them it’s comin, it’s comin… so is WWIII! And for those of you that didn’t catch the meeting on KAT or in person. Dr. Smith is now PAYING yet again someone to go dig him up students in India! Yea I kid you not.. and no one even objected to the blatent waste of money. And they hired yet another ed tech! So much for the spending freeze. Guess that went out the door with Arnold. The stupidest mistake that town ever made.
3 posts of the same article !
Dr. Smith said in October about the idea of suing the Town. Not just prior to the meeting. Geez read and understand the article. Yes it is time for Gene Conolgue to go!!!!
Millinocket is a mess….
Jay C – It’s worse than mess. I am a lifetime member of the Millinocket Fin & Feather Club and I’ve never met a more controversial bunch of people. Honestly, these Millinocket people will argue about a peanut butter sandwich while they set there and watch their town and their mills go down the river.
This really saddens me. I grew up in Millinocket and my parents still live there. It is NOT the Millinocket I know….
Jay C – It’s worse than mess. I am a lifetime member of the Millinocket Fin & Feather Club and I’ve never met a more controversial bunch of people. Honestly, these Millinocket people will argue about a peanut butter sandwich while they set there and watch their town and their mills go down the river.
Boy is that town in trouble.
It’s time for a recall!! All of these self serving bozo’s need to go!!! Let’s start with Eugene! I’m as serious as ever!! They all need to go as they have not been serving the interests of Millinockets residents. I agree with Bill, they will argue and tell you that your opinion is wrong…see my earlier post with BKD_MILL’s response…
Is it completely outside of their thinking to consider that reduced funding means they need to stop spending? Are all of these guys Democrats?
Must be nice to have a convenient all purpose scapegoat for everything that absolves your ilk of responsibility for anything that goes on in their lives. All purpose scapegoats for all purpose helpless victims.
People who are so encrusted in their entitlements that they have no clue of balancing a budget, are a serious problem
People who are so encrusted in their entitlements that they have no clue of balancing a budget, are a serious problem
Millinocket needs to go back to a selectman form of government. Ban the council form of government. This is the only way you will get your town back.
This town doesn’t manage to get anyone but its school employees to vote at the polling place for things like the school budget. God help us all if we had to depend on the townspeople to go to an evening meeting to vote on issues!
Not everyone that voted was a school employee, nor voted for it. But it was unfortunate that hardly anyone voted, especially the ones complaining.
The town council can and probably will take assertive action against the school board very shortly
In my opinion, if they were to do that, then they won’t be councilors the next time around.
Don’t upset MeForest! They will call you “thick” and then make vague references about retaliation.
Why, he only said in his opinion.
The difference here is that neither of you know enough about this subject, and yet never fail to share your wisdom…
Sounds like you’ve got the inside scoop…Must be awfully close to inner sanctum of Millinocket politics. Geez mister please share your insight and wisdom with us!!
Try going to a few meetings and not just get your information from the BDN
when are you going to share your insight and wisdom?
mlktmaine, MeForest is all Hat and no Cattle, as they would say in Texas.
Your mother said I had a lot more cattle than you
Sounds like we are back on the school grounds. mlktmaine, we have just seen his wisdom!!!
When you start attending the meetings
Twit!
oooh name calling
One little known fact here in Maine is that towns don’t have school boards. What they are is superintending school committees. Their job is to superintend the schools, with the superintendent being their agent to carry out what they want done. All too often they simply hire someone to do their job. Now SADs have school directors, but the responsibility is same. If the school committees did the jobs they were elected to do they would not have these problems.
Constructive and possibly helpful, thank you…
Grow up children!!! The students are acting more grown up than are the school board & town councilors.
How do you spell “dysfunctionville?”
M-i-l-l-i-n-o-c-k-e-t.
The town council said “if you dont want us to have to line item your entire budget, then present us with a balanced budget & follow the rules that have been established”
To date, they have not-
They have cooked the books for years, and operated outside the rules, and now its coming undone.
I was at the meeting where Millinocket and their school budget were approved by the council and sent to the voters. I heard with my own ears as MANY OTHERS DID… At the very beginning of the meeting… Gene Conologue said – My connection in Augusta has given me his word we will get the S&S money. So, you ( council ) should approve their budget as it is written. We will be able to fund their budget WITH the S&S money. 2 Men from the audience got up and spoke directly to the issue of NOTHING in writing, spending money before you have any confirmation on it. As well as counting on and spending the Chinese money before it was guaranteed in their budget. Both of these men were correct. And the council acting on Gene’s word on the S&S money, and Dr. Smith on the 30 Chinese students he guaranteed!! Well guess what Gene you aren’t getting S&S money. No matter how many times Dr. Smith tells you it’s sitting on LePage’s desk. And Dr. Smith I watched you on KAT the other night. Telling them it’s comin, it’s comin… so is WWIII! And for those of you that didn’t catch the meeting on KAT or in person. Dr. Smith is now PAYING yet again someone to go dig him up students in India! Yea I kid you not.. and no one even objected to the blatent waste of money. And they hired yet another ed tech! So much for the spending freeze. Guess that went out the door with Arnold. The stupidest mistake that town ever made.
I was at the meeting where Millinocket and their school budget were approved by the council and sent to the voters. I heard with my own ears as MANY OTHERS DID… At the very beginning of the meeting… Gene Conologue said – My connection in Augusta has given me his word we will get the S&S money. So, you ( council ) should approve their budget as it is written. We will be able to fund their budget WITH the S&S money. 2 Men from the audience got up and spoke directly to the issue of NOTHING in writing, spending money before you have any confirmation on it. As well as counting on and spending the Chinese money before it was guaranteed in their budget. Both of these men were correct. And the council acting on Gene’s word on the S&S money, and Dr. Smith on the 30 Chinese students he guaranteed!! Well guess what Gene you aren’t getting S&S money. No matter how many times Dr. Smith tells you it’s sitting on LePage’s desk. And Dr. Smith I watched you on KAT the other night. Telling them it’s comin, it’s comin… so is WWIII! And for those of you that didn’t catch the meeting on KAT or in person. Dr. Smith is now PAYING yet again someone to go dig him up students in India! Yea I kid you not.. and no one even objected to the blatent waste of money. And they hired yet another ed tech! So much for the spending freeze. Guess that went out the door with Arnold. The stupidest mistake that town ever made.
sounds like someone needs a spanking on the school committee !
I went to Stearns High School, my next-door neighbor was Arnold Hopkins, and if the rumors are true that he was treated poorly than they deserve what they have coming to them. Arnold Hopkins is a class act and deserve honor and respect.
It was worse than “poor treatment” Matt. They badgered him, insisting that he step down from the chairmanship because he dared to answer questions about the school and its self-inflicted wounds regarding the Chinese students.
He was the only reasonable one and definitely the only one who had a lick of common sense.
Perhaps we should sue the school board, take back the system, and make it a private school.
Why do think the residents of East Millinocket and Medway want nothing to do with any Millinocket town department. They are the most arrogant, selfish people I know. I worked in that mill for a long time. I got see the the Rockets in action. They are killing their own heritage and they don’t even know their doing it.
The hospital is just as bad. I am counting the days until I can get out of here. Everytime I come back from my travelling job, I get nauseated when I hit Millinocket. If I have to I will abandon my house.
It was the biggest mistake I have ever made moving to this town. As far as the Council goes they are just trying to line thier pocket the same as the upper Administration at MRH. They hire friends and relatives that are worthless, but they do what the CEO says.
you want to see a mess take a look at your hospital, talk about nepotism. The CEO dose not run the hospital the Union does. Talk about sweeping the dirt under the rug. That place need to be investigated fro thier practices.
So the school board is going to be hiring a lawyer, and the town attorney, who charges an arm and a leg if someone in the municipal building so much as asks him for a Kleenex, will be charging big time.
Beaupain is going to be going to Portland to meet with the school board’s attorney.
And you do know where that money is coming from, right?
The taxpayers have the honor of shelling out money for both sides, and the school board refused tonight to put a cap on how much of our money they are willing to spend in order to grab another $158,000.
They could sell that backhoe and the phone system they bought illegally. Or they could tighten their belts like the rest of the state!
They lied outright about the money we could realistically expect from the Chinese students. They did that specifically so that they didn’t have to cut their budget according to board member Tom Malcolm at last year’s meeting.
They badgered the only sensible voice, former Chairman Arnold Hopkins, into quitting when he dared to disagree with them about their unrealistic and dishonest “proposed budget” for that program.
And now they are just fine with taking yet more money from a community with nearly 18% unemployment, with most people on a fixed income, whether because they’re old and retired or because they’re on welfare.
Oh. And did I mention that the mill rate went up 10% already?
What a bunch of selfish, power-hungry, thugs we have running this committee!
Pure unadulturated arrogance!! Absolute power corrupts absolutely! Get rid of Eugene!!
Is it just possible that Millinocket has become a poster child for discourse because some choose to continue on a path of divisiveness because it is their best interest to do so? I would think twice before I would assume that all of Millinocket’s economic woes should be attributed to the schools.
Take the town manager for instance. Seems like an affable guy but gee whiz, who benefits more from this divisiveness? In fact who really cares where the sudden and severe windfall goes as long as the money is put to good use.
Job security is usually attained in one of two ways. You either make yourself invaluable as the employee because you add value and as a result people are happy with the positive impacts you have made or you are an employee who keeps things so messed up the employer can’t risk further deterioration of their bottom line with the cost of replacing you. In the case of the town Manager I suggest it is the latter. After all, doesn’t his contract provide for a sizable severance pay regardless of whether he is fired or chooses to leave on his own accord.
Now, the School Board and Ken Smith may not have done everything they can to share the economic realities of the community but they have at least had a vision for a brighter future for our children. Working on a plan to create a revenue stream thru tuition based enrollment of foreign students is nothing short of brilliant. I say, give it time.
What vision for Millinocket’s future has the town council embraced? And what strategies is the Town Manager implementing other than an agenda of job security?
Civil discourse is a good thing as it usually brings about needed change but when divineness becomes the norm nothing productive takes place. Divisiveness just makes it difficult to see the forest for the trees. It keeps the community from moving forward, of identifying and embracing a vision for the future.
Time to make the cuts – Conlogue has to go.
Very well stated and summarized….my feelings exactly!! Eugene needs to GO!!!!
Kevin Gregory and Don Dow and the rest of the merry men including Smith should step up to the plate and resign as they are in deep trouble. They disrespected Arnold Hopkins and humilated him to no end. Arnold has served Millinocket in a great way and to get treated by his so-called friends is a disgrace. Smith wants to sue Millinocket, well when he does that he is suing every resident in Millinocket. Smith was the one that started all the trouble and put the rest of the board against Arnold, as Arnold knew exactly what Smith was up to and was asking questions that didn’t set right. Millinocket School System is in a mess, but look who runs it. I hope the people of Millinocket have a recall vote to get rid of the School Board and Smith, and maybe we can start over and straighten this mess out.
i agree and dont forget the town counsil . the town should go to select boars like the naboring towns. that the people have a sayin what is going on .and no political gains like having thing s done because you belong to a sertain club
Seems the people of Milly ought to look a little harder when they look into the mirror.They put these people in these positions with their popularity contests disguised as a vote.the situation has gotten to the point where people that have the intelligence to run the town and schools won’t run for these positions,can’t really say that I blame them,but if Milly is
ever going to climb out of the hole its in,they need to put the best people in these positions.
well i agree there should be a town over haul and yes the town is in big trouble .Our children are going to pay the price .Its going to be their education that is going to fall further behind i think the mma and the state should take over and not the outfits running things .No more political gain.Further more i see this in court and draggin .
And a large number of our children are functionally illiterate despite the massive monetary units the taxpayers have been feeding the schools over the years.
The substandard lack of education in Millinocket schools has nothing to do with money. It has to do with where the money goes and does not go.
Maybe if they were a little nicer to Roxanne Quimby she would help them out.
Maybe Medway needs to build a highschool, all the kids in the area are going to need a school to go to when they close Stearns and Schenck. This is just the start of many problems for both the mill towns. Give it six months it will be alot worse.
now theres a thought.bought you must not be from the area because its a brilliant idea
just emajine the teams we have if all the kids joined together .Lets let the kids vote on what they wanna do and keep the parents out of it.I think they are more adults than the parent are. Its there education we are talking about aint it after all.
“just emajine the teams we have if all the kids joined together .”
You’re a Stearns graduate, aren’t you?
Do you think the uniforms would be green & white?