"This article explains
a little better about what happened at the town meeting. I was
there. It was nothing like what the papers are printing and the people
posting the editorials are saying. It is quite sad how they are making
Arundel out to be the villains and the people at the meeting were not a
“mini mob”."
An Arundel Resident and Business Owner
ARUNDEL — The town's decision to vote down a $5,100
donation for the Kennebunk Free Library was the focus of concerns at the June 25
Board of Selectmen meeting.
Voters turned down the donation at the annual Town Meeting
earlier this month.
Resident Darren Keller opened the discussion during
Tuesday's meeting saying he believed the voting down of the library's donation
was "rather embarrassing" and he encouraged the Board of Selectmen to reconsider
and enter a long-term agreement to help fund the library.
Keller said it was disgusting that a "mini-mob" was able to
vote against the item while voters approved a $25,000 fee for consultants to
advise the Economic Development Committee.
Describing the sentiment as "business at any cost," Keller
noted that, upon driving into town, some of the businesses include a "tattoo
parlor, a smut store and tarot readers."
"You made your bed, now lay in it. If this is what you
allow, you'll get more of the same," Keller said.
Resident Sam Hull referred to Arundel's town slogan, "where
people matter," when expressing his disappointment about the refusal to fund the
library.
"I'm shocked and dismayed that it's no longer free but
there was a $25,000 investment to make an attractive image for businesses. It's
not consistent," Hull said and later asked how free access could be
regained.
Town Clerk Simone Boissonneault explained that whether the
item was approved or rejected, the Kennebunk Free Library would charge Arundel
residents to use services.
Boissonneault said the presentation by library director
Jill LeMay before the vote explaining that a fee would be charged whether
Arundel residents supported the $5,100 donation or not left many residents
shocked and "I saw some faces drop."
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