The Chesterville Town Office, where the Select Board held its October 17 meeting to discuss the adoption of the updated general assistance ordinance and its potential impact on the town’s resources in Chesterville. Submitted Photo

CHESTERVILLE — At the Chesterville Select Board meeting Oct. 17, the board reached a deadlock on whether to adopt the updated general assistance ordinance and its appendices. With a tied vote, the matter was tabled for further research, and the board plans to revisit it at the next meeting, Nov. 7.

“This is our second go-round,” said Treasurer Erin Norton as the meeting began. “It’s an ordinance to adopt or not to adopt the state maximums for general assistance in Chesterville.”

Select Board Chairman Eric Hilton highlighted the long-standing support for general assistance in the community, explaining that the ordinance is designed to help local residents facing hardships. He noted that it can provide assistance with essentials like paying an elderly person’s electric bill or covering gas costs. In previous years, the board has typically set aside about $2,000 for this purpose.

When Hilton asked Norton how much of that had been used last year, she said she couldn’t remember the exact amount, but noted that it was not fully utilized. Norton reminded the board that the state reimburses 70% of the funds spent. “Exactly,” said Hilton. “We put up 30%.”

Norton shared that in 2022, Chesterville spent $891 on general assistance, of which $267 was the town’s responsibility after receiving a 70% reimbursement from the state. In 2023, the town spent $506, with its share reduced to $151 following state reimbursement. So far in 2024, $543 has been spent, with $162 as the town’s portion after reimbursements.

Hilton’s concerns stemmed from a recent amendment to the general assistance program, which he explained involves the state’s new Office of New Americans [ONA]. He described it as an initiative from Governor Janet Mills’ administration, aimed at bringing 75,000 asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants into Maine by 2030 to “enhance our workforce” and “improve our diversity and culture.”

According to the state’s website, the plan proposes the creation of the Office of New Americans to support immigrants, strengthen Maine’s workforce, and build an inclusive economy. The ONA would have a four-person staff and a 19-member advisory council to guide long-term immigrant integration efforts.

Hilton said this amendment raised numerous questions. “Who pays for them to come in here?” he asked. “It’s the general assistance. They can receive lodging, help with heat, personal hygiene products, mileage, and even trauma support because they come from troubled countries.”

He explained that this placed an additional burden on the town. “We’re responsible for them for at least six months,” Hilton said. “If they go to another town or whatever, we’re still responsible for their finances. We can’t handle it. We can’t support it.”

Hilton highlighted the strain this would place on Chesterville’s resources. “We don’t have a place to house them. If we can’t facilitate them, we would have to put them in a motel in Farmington.”

Hilton highlighted how quickly expenses could escalate, explaining that if a few new children moved into the area, the town would have to cover significant additional education costs. He noted that the town currently spends about $5,000 per student. “It all sounds crazy to think, right,” Hilton said, emphasizing how even a small increase in students could quickly add up financially.

Hilton referred to a Maine Municipal Association [MMA] guide that explained how even rural towns like Chesterville must prepare for new residents. “If you believe your municipality is too isolated to receive clients from other national, cultural or racial backgrounds, think again,” he read from the document. “MMA is telling us we have to prepare for this.”

Hilton expressed frustration with the state’s role in mandating these changes without considering the town’s capacity. “The state’s putting this on us,” he said. “They don’t ever come and hang out with us. They don’t talk to us. They don’t say, ‘Hey, how’s the town of Chesterville doing?’ They don’t know what’s going on here and our struggles.”

Hilton emphasized that the issue was not about discrimination but about what the town could realistically handle. “We are discriminating in the sense of making an educated decision of discerning what can we and can we not do,” he said. “This is not about race, it’s about what’s best for our town and what we’re capable of doing.”

Mike Wells, a property owner in Chesterville and a Wilton Selectman, spoke against adopting the ordinance without modifications. “With the proposed general assistance ordinance, which is the cookie-cutter approach, we’re becoming nothing more than a satellite office of the state,” Wells said. “Policies, even at the local level, must be thought through before just rubber-stamping it.”

Wells pointed out that the ordinance covered U.S. citizens, non-citizens lawfully present and those pursuing immigration relief. He urged the board to take the time to draft an ordinance more tailored to the needs of Chesterville, saying, “You will fund nonprofits indirectly. Look into it. Do the research.”

Hilton, responding to the debate, reiterated the town’s financial struggles. “We’re struggling, right?” he said. “People are stressed about their taxes. We’re kind of in survival mode. For us to be able to properly support anybody coming in like that, that’s a very challenging thing for us to do. We don’t have the resources to become capable.”

As the meeting progressed, the board remained divided on how to proceed. Hilton proposed exploring the option of drafting a town-specific general assistance ordinance. “I personally think the best thing for our town is to have our own general assistance where we have $2,000 in the budget and we take care of our local people as we see fit,” he said.

However, Hilton acknowledged that the state would likely resist this approach. “The state needs us, right?” he said. “For them to make this Office of New Americans thing work, they need everybody to sign up. We’re kind of getting forced into it. MMA said we can’t say no to this; it’s illegal.”

The board eventually voted on the motion to accept the state’s general assistance ordinance, resulting in a 2-2 tie. Hilton concluded, “I’m going to wait to hear back from MMA.” He said they can discuss it more at the next meeting.

A resident asked would the town still be reimbursed 70% if they don’t adopt the general assistance ordinance. The answer was no.

Norton is also the general assistance administrator and in response to the board not accepting the ordinance, noted, “This is unprecedented.” Norton said even if the board doesn’t accept the ordinance, she is still expected to follow it. “Before I award anything, I would ask MMA what to do if the board didn’t vote to adopt the general assistance ordinance,” she said. She also said she would take it up with the board before moving forward with awarding general assistance.

The next Select Board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m.