Bill would authorize Peaks vote

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AUGUSTA - A renewed push is on to separate Peaks and three other Casco Bay islands from Portland, but the plan faces legislative scrutiny and a local referendum.

A bill before lawmakers would authorize the incorporation of Peaks Island, House Island, Pumpkin Knob and Catnip Island into a Town of Peaks Island pending a vote of approval by the affected islanders.

Supporters acknowledge that secession could lead to higher taxes. But some, including Jamie Hogan of Peaks, say that's all right as long as they have a say in how their taxes are spent.

"The fact is, we live in a coastal community," Hogan said. If secession goes through, "we would then be able to get to do what we need to do with that money, as opposed to hoping that Portland will sort of take our needs into account," she said.

Sen. Christine Savage's bill seeks to authorize a secession vote and force the City of Portland to negotiate a settlement with islanders before an arbitrator.

In an advisory vote last spring, secession was approved by 57.5 percent of Peaks voters. Islanders agreed to move forward with secession negotiations, but those talks with Portland failed to produce any change.

Savage, R-Union, and the Peaks Island Independence Committee were presenting a report to the Legislature showing why the islands are ready to break away from Portland. A public hearing on Savage's bill is scheduled for Monday.

Peaks and the other islands would be the latest to break away from mainland communities. The breakaways have generally been motivated by tax and representation issues.

Peaks' last effort to secede from Portland occurred in 1995, when the Maine Legislature's State and Local Government Committee voted 9-0 to reject a bill seeking permission for an island election on the issue, ensuring the measure's defeat.

In 1993, Long Island seceded from Portland, and Chebeague won its independence from Cumberland last year when Gov. John Baldacci signed legislation allowing that split.

Reader comments

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tom of falmouth, ME

Apr 25, 2007 1:19 PM

Thomas - If you have first hand knowledge of city government, I think you know that the council is a soapbox for social engineering, without any focus on what the people of Portland want or need. I lived on Reed Street then Pinecrest Road for approximately 11 years, before I found a way to finally leave. Still work in town and must suffer the PPH so my escape is incomplete.

The answer for the island communities is to join forces but I am aware that will never happen. Shame to have seven separate contracts for garbage hauling, fire protection, etc.

Thomas of Deering Center, ME

Apr 25, 2007 12:41 PM

Tom, if you lived here, you'd know that's rubbish. We have an Island Coordinator for heaven's sake. Do we have a Deering Center coordinator? No, because contrary to popular opinion, the rest of Portland's neighborhoods aren't nearly as whiny as Peaks Island. Thier taxes didn't go up, they're the same as mine. The valuations went way up however, but boo hoo for them and their tripling oceanfront home values. They'll take the increase gladly when they sell but complain about it otherwise. Bunch of crybabies always moaning about something. I'd be happy if they were cut loose.

Let's set them free and annex SoPo instead.

sapereaude of Searsmont, ME

Apr 25, 2007 11:34 AM

Portland has long been a bobbed and coiffed tail wagging the entire Maine dog. It's high time their unwilling political satellites gain freedom from an indifferent urban bureaucracy and an increasingly expensive school system. Ironic that the Casco Bay islands are not as philosophically insular as the mainland bureaucracy that seeks to keep them in subjugation.
For those who think consolidation equals improvement, I'd suggest comparing the knowledge base of the average graduate of the old Maine village school systems with the knowledge base of modern Maine SAD graduates. The heuristic epistemological quality of Maine's SADs is in inverse proportion to their bureaucratic consolidation and increased expense to the taxpayer. Or, to put it more simply, the fact that Maine's lottery is supported primarily by graduates of Maine's SADs should be proof that SADs have failed in teaching civics, logic and statistics. Let the islands secede, manage themselves and form their own school districts, and then compare their products with those of Portland a generation down the road.
Yours,
WBL

tom of falmouth, ME

Apr 25, 2007 10:56 AM

the problem is not local governance, or island independence. the problem is portland city council is career pols out of touch with neighborhood needs, too focused on being legislators. big challenge is make up of council, ie all dems, no balance whatsoever.

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