JAY — Voters will consider a $6.25 municipal budget Tuesday, June 12. Also on the ballot are three proposed ordinances on a new uniform building code, energy-efficiency loans and amendment to the subdivision rules.
The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Community Building in the lower-level of Spruce Mountain Middle School.
The proposed $6.25 million spending plan is $35,236.60 less than this year’s budget. Town Manager Ruth Cushman had previously estimated that the town will receive $105,199 less in revenue, which brings the net budget to $4 million. That is an increase of $69,962.40 from this year’s net budget.
The municipal budget does not include the RSU 73 budget that voters will also be voting on Tuesday, or the town’s share of county tax.
Townspeople will also be voting on elected officials. The only contested race is for a three-year selectman’s position held Amy Pineau. Pearl Cook and Laurence “Larry” Thornton are vying for the position.
Selectman Steve McCourt is unopposed for another three-year term.
RSU 73 directors, Darcie Comstock and Michael Morrell are also uncontested for two, three-year terms.
The budget includes $200,000 for the town’s estimated share of reconfiguring the Hyde Road, Route 133 and East Jay Road intersection to make it safer for motorists. Several accidents have occurred there.
The budget also includes $450,000 for the capital paving account.
One of three ordinances on the ballot is a proposed Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code Administrative Ordinance. It deals with oversight of building permits, inspections and occupancy permits, among other things, for new buildings and for renovations to existing buildings.
As of July 1, towns with more than 4,000 residents must enforce the state-adopted legislation, town officials previously said. Town leaders have proposed an ordinance to help them administer the ordinance, because Jay has a population of 4,885.
If the town does not adopt an administrative ordinance, it would be subject to the state’s administrative rules.
The ordinance requires a town building official to enforce codes on structures covered under the International Residential Code for residential structures. The ordinance proposes a third-party inspector option for enforcement in relation to structures covered under the International Building Code for commercial and industrial property.
Businesses and industrial property owners will have to pay for a third-party building inspector to check a building project in order to get an occupancy permit from the town.
There is an exception to the third-party inspector rule. In the event that a small project, such as a door or wall being taken out, the town manager or a designee would have the discretion to allow for the use of the building official in place of a third-party inspector.
The Twenty-Fifth Ordinance amends the Jay Environmental Control and Improvement Ordinance pertaining to subdivisions. The amendments include clarification of road frontage as being on a public way established by or maintained under public authority or a private right of way, the description of which is recorded in the Franklin County Registry of Deeds.
It also proposes a change in the filing fees for a subdivision. Currently, the fee is $100 per lot or dwelling unit under the subdivision chapter. The ordinance proposes to have the filing fee for new subdivisions at $100 per lot or dwelling unit, and the filing fee for amendments or revisions to previously approved plans be $50 per lot or dwelling unit.
Another change would require all abutters to be notified by certified mail for new subdivisions and by regular mail for all amendments to previously approved plans.
The third ordinance is related to the Property Assessed Clean Energy program. For property owners to participate in the Efficiency Maine loan program, the town must adopt an ordinance. Eligible property owners could take out low-interest loans of up to $15,000 over 15 years to weatherize and make their homes energy-efficient.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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