By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — As far as controversy or lengthy debates about budget items, the Naples Annual Town Meeting was uneventful.

However, it was memorable.

When it comes to honoring the human beings who have impacted the Town of Naples in one way or another, the town meeting was noteworthy.

Thursday, April 27, marked the last town meeting that Naples Town Manager John Hawley would attend. (Hawley announced his resignation almost two months ago. His last day is May 11.)

In fact, both the Naples chairman and the American Legion Post No. 155 presented a plaque and praise to Hawley.

Also, on Thursday, Judy Whynot came out of retirement to assist the current clerks with town meeting tasks. (Whynot retired in December of last year.) On the other end of the spectrum, it was Town Clerk Michelle Thibodeau’s first town meeting in that role.

On April 27, approximately 100 Naples residents approved the $1.6 million budget in less than thirty minutes. 

The actual number of people registered to vote was 104, according to Whynot. However, on some of the warrant articles, the total number of votes was around 95.

This year’s annual town meeting was expedited because Selectman Ted Shane made the motion to create a block of warrant articles to be voted on at same time.

Shane gave kudos to the Naples Budget Committee for a job well done as he explained why he made a motion to group together all the budgetary warrant articles, Warrant Article 16A through Warrant Article 29.

“I am doing this because these articles have been beat up pretty badly by the budget committee and the board of selectmen. I don’t believe there is anymore we can give it,” Shane said, recommending it be passed as a block.

“The budget committee did great job. Hashed it out for several weeks. Then, the selectmen went over it. We have probably made all the cuts we can make,” Shane said.

The majority of residents, 65-26-6, agreed to pass Warrant Articles 16A through 29.

Warrant Article 30, which was the Animal Control Officer’s budget, passed, 52-41-3.

Again, Shane made a motion to group Warrant Articles 31 through 39 together and vote on those.

“I say that for the same reason, the budget committee has done a great job this year with their many meetings,” Shane said.

The motion for those to be grouped together passed, 53-35-7, for a total of 95 voters. More people voted on passing that group of warrant articles. That was approved, 55-40-5, which meant 100 voters participated.

The meeting was finished in about 28 minutes.

Prior to the final vote, toward the beginning of the meeting, the first block that citizens voted on was a group of housekeeping warrant articles, such as when tax bills come due.

“These articles are pretty much the same exact wording as we have at every town meeting. All it is is housekeeping articles, and I see no reason to debate them,” Shane said. 

After the moderator had been chosen and before residents voted on the budgetary warrant articles, Chairman Jim Grattelo spoke about the outgoing town manager. 

“It actually saddens me to be here tonight. I can say without equivocation that he is the best town manager Naples has ever had,” Grattelo began.

“The greatest thing about John is: He is apolitical. He didn’t take sides. He never chose one over the other. He could have his greatest enemy walk into his office and ask a question or make a complaint, and he would follow through with that complaint or question. He always answered his phone. He was always there for the public and the citizens. The businesses in town enjoyed doing business with him as well. He was a class act,” Grattelo said. “He was great as an administrator. He was great as a resource for all the committees that he served. Most of them, behind the scenes getting the information, but if he had to attend those meetings, he would attend to be there and keep it running smoothly.”

“And finally, I want to say that… I am going to remember him for his departing resignation letter, and the honesty that he put into his resignation letter. If everyone reads that and we change because of that, that is the legacy this man is going to leave us,” he said.

The speech from American Legion Commander Bill Stuart was a bit shorter.

“You’ve been a friend to us for a long time, and we’ve appreciated your service,” Stuart said.

There was another way that people who shaped Naples were remembered. The 2022 Town Report was dedicated to three people: Dana Watson, Kent Uicker and Roger Clement Sr.