After more than 20 years in various municipal positions, Moulton says, “I still believe in this town.” He loves this community, and says he began public service at a time when “everyone knew everyone.”
An incumbent, Moulton is running for one of the three-year term Select Board seats. Over breakfast at Toddy Brook, we had a wide-ranging conversation about North Yarmouth.
Moulton has seen North Yarmouth weather numerous community changes - being divided on issues is not new. He was in high school when the SAD was formed. Prior to the consolidation, North Yarmouth students attended North Yarmouth Memorial School through 8th grade, then could go to the high school of their choice. Residents disagreed, but the school union was approved, forcing many students to transfer back to Greely High School. Moulton now jokes about the difficulty of that period.
Moulton also shared his observations and frustration about the previous work climate in the school district. He supports school to move human resources to its own department, sighting historic lack of respect for personnel, including limited facilities for female bus staff.
“Well, I said to one of the board members do me a favor. Why don't you go down there and see what facilities the bus drivers have got. A lot of those bus drivers are women…The bathroom in [the new maintenance facility], it's a men's room. It's got urinals in it and everything else...[look in the] old building and look at [the women’s] restrooms.”
Moulton admits he is fiscally conservative. He did not support portions of the previous “one campus plan” for a new elementary school - $1.2M to move Sweetser building. A more prudent plan would be to rebuild it instead, similar to the “Old Wilson building” at Pineland. It would be a safer, better building, and remain historically accurate.
“So why would I pay $1.2 million. I know how much money they put in that building. I was in there because I was on the board. If you pull the paneling down, you'd be scared to be in the thing.”
In his first term on the Select Board, it was a 3-member board. The other two members had children his age, and he agreed there was a “huge learning curve.” He described his rookie political style as a “grenade thrower.” He eventually realized “nothing happens without a ‘we’.”
He has been criticized for not using personal email and social media. Moulton said multiple times, “I like people.” He prefers talking directly with residents to stay on top of current town issues. He welcomes residents to leave him a message - he’ll call you back. He estimated he spends the equivalent of a full-time job reading copies of correspondence, meeting with residents, and reviewing documents.
“Time has changed the way people do things. They really have. And I'll use the words statesman versus a politician.” Moulton shared his admiration for the relationship between Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill. They were political adversaries yet maintained a close friendship. “Now we don't do that and we're totally polarized.”
Moulton attributes much of current conflict to a lack of diversity of thought within committees. He thinks a broader mix of opinions is needed, “so I'm not drawing my water from the same well. Otherwise, them committees are no good.” He likened the situation to being “a committee of one.”
He emphasized democracies are “not efficient” but believes North Yarmouth needs a variety of perspectives, especially at the committee level to be effective.
Moulton would not support a switch to a town council format. He believes the administrative assistant model was more efficient. Yet, the move to a town manager has added a layer of administration to the process that is appropriate for our town.
“I think our hybrid system is all right. I really don't think we're going to gain anything [with a change of government]. I think we've got to gain somehow the public trust.”
The right level of government may be related to perspective. Previously, low turnout for town meeting was an indication the Select Board was doing a good job. He recalls being told by the town’s administrative assistant to not worry about low resident attendance: taxes weren’t going up, no one was complaining, town residents were happy, so they didn’t attend. Now meeting attendance is at an all-time high, and there is a strong push to add more ways for residents to participate. Moulton does not support just creating subcommittees, nor does he support making town decisions solely through referendums.
“If you want a true democracy, then the closest you get is a town meeting.”
He summarized the scope of authority of the Select Board:
“The only legislative body above [the Select Board] is people's town meeting. We control the town manager. We hire and fire that person. She or he run the town for us. But our job is every ad hoc committee and every other committee, short of the budget committee which by statute does the budget, but the rest of them work at the charge we give them, and they're answerable to us.”
Controversy surrounding the resignation of the town manager, Rosemary Roy, is still part of the political divide, with some blaming Moulton for poor treatment and handling of the situation.
“I was very nice to Rosemary. I was firm. I didn't come down here to make friends with anybody. I come down here to do a job.”
Moulton believed Roy “was average,” but her initial job performance did not reach the point of replacement. Moulton stated he had saved Roy’s job three times, but the town manager’s actions continued to exceed her authority, which ultimately lead to her departure.
“We were selling town buildings, town land. Approaching businesses and the stuff that's going on here, we got development, clear up the road, all planned out. And [the Select Board] don't know anything about it. We don't know about selling town property, town land. This is going to cease.”
Moving forward, Moulton listed supporting the new town manager as a top priority. “We need Diane.” Moulton respects the new town manager and believes she brings needed skills to North Yarmouth. He committed to ensuring her transition is smooth and effective.
“We need to straighten our financial house order out. That's number two. That has to do with undesignated funds.”
Long-range planning should be a town priority. During a previous term, Moulton instituted a capital improvement fund but is frustrated with what he sees as budgeting missteps.
“I've read the audit. I know what it says. I knew what it said.” He believes inappropriate use of undesignated funds as well as pulling from capital improvements has negatively impacted the town. He also wants the town to focus on ensuring TIF funds are being used properly.
Moulton does not support recent changes to the budget process.
“I want the budget committee to take our budget. Ask any questions you want…go down article by article and explain why we did it.” Presenting the budget articles as a joint decision removed “checks and balances” from the process. “So, the Budget Committee is only valuable if they are looking at the budget independently.”
The ongoing confusion regarding the Sharp’s Field agreement seems to be linked to the district wanting a turf field. During his last year on the school board, Moulton said the district authorized a study to consider installing a turf field. In May of 2021, Superintendent Jeff Porter, stated a turf field is a necessity for the district. Moulton strongly opposes anything other than preserving the Sharp’s Field property as a grass sports field. Other deed restrictions are to ensure the property is protected from recent efforts to develop the land. “I'm done playing the game…I could mow a lot of grass” for the cost to the town for a turf field.
He appreciates his fellow board members. He commends Brian for the work he has done while on the board and as chair. He also praised work by Paul Hodgetts to initiate the RFP to consider a new contract for town law firm.
He said his campaign is low key, and mostly involves talking directly to residents.