Kennebunkport – Tuesday’s vote on the range of options for taxpayer dollars to contribute to municipal expenses related to Prelude indicated that residents are divided in their opinions. As a non-binding vote, this information is now in the hands of the select board for further action, which could happen before the end of June.
The vote shows 759 votes in favor of fully funding Prelude safety-related municipal services, 680 in favor of the town charging the Kennebunk Business Association for these services, and 411 in favor of covering 50% of the cost of these services.
Breaking down the election results into percentages indicates support for Prelude, as 41% of residents who voted want to financially support the event at the current level. Twenty-two percent are willing for taxpayer dollars to cover 50% of the cost. Those voters who want no tax dollar involvement at all comprise 37%.
“What we wanted to learn from the vote was to show insight, does the public want to remain with the ordinance as written or want us to do the work and move it forward to another ballot with an up and down clarity vote,” said Mary Beth Gilbert, select board member.
At the June 11 Kennebunkport Select Board meeting, board members’ reaction to the election results appeared to be in sync, with David Bancroft stating that the difference between “no funding and fully funding Prelude was 79 votes. The majority is in the middle somewhere.” “The compromise position is to do one weekend to support, the second weekend would be on KBA to fund. To me, they [the numbers] speak clearly,” said Jon Dykstra. Allen Haggett and Joseph Moan agreed.
The ordinance currently in place prohibits the town from providing any financial support for commercial events, specifically naming “Winter Prelude” as a commercial event. The town discovered this spring that this ordinance has been in effect since 1986. This ordinance would need to be changed before next December’s Prelude for the town to legally continue to provide any financial support to the event.
Tina Hewitt-Gordon, president of the Kennebunk Business Association, said she is pleased to see that there is so much positive feeling for Prelude, that a majority of the community – 63% – want to continue financial support. But she also sees opportunity. “Our board will be discussing ways to adapt Prelude, looking back at how it has changed over the years and perhaps bringing back some of the earlier events that were enjoyed by the community,” she said, adding that she and the board will be seeking “balance.”
The select board must move quickly to complete the lengthy process needed to put an ordinance revision on the ballot in November. Draft wording will be discussed by the select board at their June 25 meeting, and updates reviewed at the July 9 meeting. More review will take place at the August 6 select board meeting. The warrant, with final language, must be signed by the board September 10. Finally, the town will hold the formal public hearing in October before the November 3 election.
The final point at which the public can have input on the wording of the ordinance would be in August.
