By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Less than 50 Naples voters showed up to a Special Town Meeting last Wednesday.

The total number of people who registered to vote was 44, according to Naples Town Clerk Michelle Thibodeau.

Four months after the regular Naples Town Meeting, there were four items that needed to be financed. Therefore, on Aug. 23, four warrant articles faced voters. All four passed.

None of these warrant articles will impact the tax rate. The money will be pulled from existing funds such as the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund or the town’s surplus.

Warrant Article No. 4 addressed the purchase of three parcels owned by Norway Savings Bank. The lots are located between the Naples Town Hall and the Naples Fire Station. The purchase was approved at the ballot during the June Primary Election. At that time, voters okayed taking out a bond, too. The reason that the money is needed earlier is because the landowner wants to close on sale before Sept. 1. The town would have been unable to float the bond that quickly. So, warrant article No. 4 asked voters to use $270,000 from TIF account for that pending purchase. It passed, 41-2.

Warrant Article No. 5 asked voters for $70,000 to create a full-time position in the finance department. The money includes salary and benefits. That annual amount will be taken from existing surplus funds. The warrant passed, 40-4.

This particular hiring was highly recommended during the town’s audit, according to Interim Naples Town Manager Bill Giroux. Also, having one more employee in the finance department will improve the town’s standing while taking out the bond, he said.

Warrant Article No. 6 addressed rebuilding the old gym section to the town hall. The article asked voters whether or not to use $650,000 to rebuild the space for offices and meeting rooms. The money to be used is from the undesignated TIF fund. The article passed, 38-6.

Lastly, Warrant Article No. 7 asked voters to support the purchase of a new truck for the Naples Maintenance Department. The truck will be utilized for snow removal and other miscellaneous jobs. The total monetary request was $75,000. Citizens voted, 34-9, to allocate money from two sources: $60,717 from reserves and $14,283 from surplus.