BREWER, Maine — Whether the city should require the next school superintendent to live in town and the date for a $5.4 million school bond referendum spurred discussion Tuesday night amongst City Council members.
Councilor Larry Doughty said he requested a public hearing on changing the city charter to require the school superintendent to be a Brewer resident after learning current Superintendent Daniel Lee is retiring next year.
Mayor Jerry Goss and Councilor Joseph Ferris both said they have talked to school board members who have voiced concern that the proposed requirement would tie their hands when it comes to hiring Lee’s replacement.
“They think it will limit their scope of applicants,” Ferris said.
He said he doesn’t oppose having the public hearing but “I don’t know I’d support it.”
Adding a stipulation that would allow the person hired as the next superintendent to move into Brewer within the first two or three years of their employment was suggested by Goss and supported by Doughty.
“I agree with that,” Doughty said. “I think one way or the other it’s going to go before the voters.”
Charter amendments require voter approval and Doughty suggested that a citizens’ petition may be forthcoming if councilors don’t support a referendum.
The second school department subject that caused discussion was brought forth by Councilor Arthur “Archie” Verow, who expressed concerns about a Sept. 18 school bond referendum.
The Department of Education has approved a $5.4 million Quality School Construction bond for Brewer High School, and acceptance of the money must be approved by residents in a local referendum.
“Why not at the June primary or November election?” Verow asked. “I’m very hesitant to call voters out for three elections in one year.”
The mayor addressed the question by explaining that residents must approve accepting the funds by the end of the year or risk losing the bond funding.
“June will not allow them enough time to have the necessary materials ready to make the public aware” of what the funding would be used for, Goss said. “Waiting to November puts it too close to the drop-dead date.”
The bond vote is critical to the future of Brewer High School, which would be modernized with the funding, “without any additional costs to the budget,” the mayor said.
“We’re under the gun,” Doughty said.
Verow voted against the resolve to set the school referendum date.
“I’m not opposed to the project, I’m just opposed to the election date,” he said.
During the meeting, the council also:
- Held an honorary swearing in ceremony for two police officers and one firefighter who have joined the city ranks over the last year. Officer Kristie Bouchard and firefighter Jason Grosse were sworn in by City Clerk Howard Kroll. Officer Eduardo Benjamin is another new officer but was unable to attend the meeting.
- Heard yearly updates about calls for service and upgrades from Fire Chief Gary Parent and Police Chief Perry Antone. Both gave accolades to their employees and said call volumes are up.
- Proclaimed March 12-18 as MS awareness week.
- Accepted donations from Carol Reynolds and Charles and Eleanor Fisher for the police department and another $3,000 from an anonymous donor to support the department’s canine program.
- Endorsed a program to identify and record historic buildings in the city done in partnership with the Brewer Historical Society.
Good God, a cell phone photo, really?
And we can buy copies!! Oh boy!!!
Requiring the highest paid public employee to live in Brewer—-how insulting -probably couldnt afford the taxes
Yes, predictably spending $40,000,000 on a new middle school, replete with performing arts center, wasn’t enough so now they want another bond that the rest of us will have to pay. Dang it! Oh, I like the part about an anonymous contribution for the canine department. After building the new public safety building the town could no longer afford the canine department. Funny, they thought having a canine was important enough when they first authorized one. I guess having a new room and desk is more important to them now. What a bunch of yahoo’s!
the first 2-3 years? it would be time for them to move onto another job —nice double chin on the sap swearing the public safety officers——
Sour grapes? Couldn’t make the grade, eh?
Proving them right, you should learn to be more gracious.
Look at your town budget, then your tax bill.
The school dept. should Always be top issue of council discussions.
“They think it will limit their scope of applicants,” Ferris said.______________________________________________
It will. I don’t think there are tons of applicants out there who want to be superintendent. I would focus on getting the best candidate for the job…period. If that person lived in Bangor, Brewer, Orrington…I really wouldn’t care.
Having to live in Brewer would be bit of a slap to students and parents from towns that send kids into the high school from other towns. He or she may not be “THEIR SUPERINTENDENT-but they help pay his or her salary and they don’t live in Brewer either.
Those towns have their own superintendents (Orrington, Dedham, Holden/SAD 63). Exactly how many superintendents should “they” get to call their own and control?
I don’t think the residency requirement is a good one, but those towns without high schools have superintendents. I don’t think they get to have input into where Brewer’s superintendent needs to live (or that it would be insulting if he had to live in Brewer). Bangor takes kids too, so Bangor could not require Betsy Webb to live in Bangor because some other towns help pay her salary?
I’d be alot more concerned with the credentials of the candidate than where they lived-within reason. Top police and fire officials are usually required to live with a certain radius of their departments. Being a top school official with school age children in your system can be uncomfortable for everyone involved-teachers,coaches,principals, school board members etc. Would the football coach really like to decide if the superintendent’s kid should start at quarterback?
I am thinking we could find a qualified teacher for less pay a superintendent makes . Why is it all about wasting as much money as they can and not about educating kids?