By Nick Mattera
Amendments to a slew of election day policies are expected to be approved by the Lewiston-Porter school board at today’s budget meeting, which most notably would limit the timeframe a voter referendum can be submitted to appear on the ballot.
The current policy allows voters to submit referendums to the board within 30 days of the date of the election, however, the new policy will increase the period to 50 days. With 71 days until the May 18 election, voters would have just 21 days to gather the more than 170 signatures required to get a referendum on the ballot.
The board is expected to vote in favor of the policy changes at tonight’s budget meeting.
This parameter may jeopardize the chances of a hotly contended “cost control referendum” making it onto the ballot, as the majority of the board is unlikely to approve the measure.
The referendum authorizes the school board to call a special district meeting and hold an advisory referendum vote whenever a contract between the district and an employee union or the superintendent results in an increase in cost greater than $100,000.
School Board President Keith Fox said the board will take a vote on getting the cost control referendum onto the ballot at its March 16 regular board meeting.
Last year the board approved the measure by a 4-3 vote and the public approved it 1,643 to 1,122.
“I voted in favor of it last year. Its a good referendum, we have to get it on the ballot this year,” board member Ed Waller said.
Former board member Ed Lilly said the referendum is important in that it keeps the public abreast of contractual and salary increases local unions are looking to receive for their members. He said the BOCES teachers are looking for a 26 percent salary increase and the Lew-Port teachers are hoping to gain something similar.
“That is why the teachers union wants me off the (BOCES) board and that is why the teachers want my cost control referendum off the ballot,” Lilly said.
Last year’s election season was plagued with legal uncertainties and Superintendent R. Christopher Roser said the new polices would help set district guidelines that the board must follow.
Twenty-eight days prior to last year’s election, Lilly proposed a referendum that would reduce the size of the school board from seven members to five. A new proposed policy addresses that issue and limits board member sponsored referendums to be voted on at least 30 days prior to the election.
The board is reviewing all 36 policies and will vote on them today at 6 p.m. in the district administration building.
