SAD6 referendum election ― The new legislation establishing the Regional School Units (RSU’s) requires that an open meeting be held to approve a budget for the upcoming school fiscal year (July 1 2008 – June 30 2009) and then a referendum election be held to validate that approval. SAD 6 has scheduled the budget meeting on Thursday May 8th at the Bonny Eagle Middle School in Buxton at 7:00 PM. (A copy of the notice calling this meeting has been posted on our website). This notice contains 13 articles the Board of School Directors recommends be approved at this meeting. However, during this meeting and the approval process, some of these articles may be changed. After the articles have been finalized and approved, the voters, registered to vote in the five (5) municipalities comprising School Administration District 6, get to vote, by secret ballot, to validate the budget approved at this meeting.

This referendum election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 13th. (The notice of this referendum election has also been posted on our website). The polls will open at the Frye Island Community Center at 10:00 AM and will remain open until 8:00 PM. All registered voters can participate in this referendum election by voting in person, at the Community Center, or by absentee ballot. A copy of the “Specimen Ballot” has been posted on our website and has been attached to this e-mail. If you are a registered voter and wish to vote by absentee ballot, please let us know ASAP and we will mail the official ballot to you. All of the ballots, including the absentee ballots, will be counted immediately after the polls close at 8:00 PM.

Here’s the crunch. The official ballot asks if you will approve the budget adopted at the budget meeting held on May 8th. . Needless to say, you can’t vote until after that meeting. If you mail your ballot back to Frye Island and the returned ballot is post marked before May 9th, it will be considered invalid and we will not be able to count it.

I met with SAD 6 this morning and was told they hoped to have the approved articles available Friday the 9th but definitely by Monday the 12th. Monday wouldn’t give you time to mail the ballots back to us for counting. However, I plan to attend the meeting so I will get all the information and try to get it posted Friday morning.

Getting the absentee ballots out next week is further complicated because we will be moving the office back to the Island but we will make sure that all requested absentee ballots are mailed in time for you to vote. I understand the time crunch but we will do everything we can to make it work for you.

I hope this isn’t too confusing. If you have any questions about this process, please let me know.  ...  Wayne

town anniversary committee ― The Tenth Anniversary Celebration Committee will have a meeting on the Monday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 26, at 10 AM in the Community Center. Contact Pat Karpacz, Chairperson of this Committee, if you have any questions.

winter newsletter ― The 2008 Winter Newsletter for Frye Island is now available online for your viewing.

GENERAL INFORMATION ― Frye Island is located in Sebago Lake approximately 25 miles west of Portland, Maine. We became Maine's newest town in 1998, and the wonderful memories of that glorious July Fourth weekend will live on for years to come. There are two ferries that provide transportation to & from the Island on a scheduled basis. The Island is easy to find, just head towards Raymond, Maine on State Route 302. More detailed information is available to assist you in driving to Frye Island. There is a General Information Sheet available that describes a myriad of useful information for Islanders. There is a wonderful nine hole public golf course on the Island. A popular place on the Island for both people on the Island and boaters on Sebago Lake is Frye's Leap General Store & Cafe. There is a private marina with in-water boat docking for property owners on the Island; some slips are available for weekly rental for visitors and renters staying on the Island. There is a Virtual Island Tour that is available to anyone that would like to see what the Island is like.