Tech school bond is big Brewer issue

BREWER — It was buried in the consent agenda of Tuesday night’s council meeting. There was no discussion on the resolve to support Question 7.

Despite the lack of pomp, though, it passed, and City Manager Harold Parks said it was important that residents be aware of it.

The bond issue is for $5 million to purchase training equipment for the Maine Technical College system. An additional $1.5 million in matching funds will come from the private sector if the bond is approved.

Parks said Brewer’s major employers — Lemforder, Brewer Automotive Components, Eastern Fine Paper Co. — rely on technical college graduates for their skills, and noted that technical colleges are the state’s sole providers of skilled technicians in 29 of 36 occupational areas.

The council unanimously voted to urge Brewer voters to vote in favor of Question 7.

In other council business Tuesday night, Mayor Donna Thornton proclaimed Nov. 6-12 Key Club Week. She said Key Club International is sponsored by the Kiwanis International.

Brewer High School club members devote up to 50 hours of volunteer service each year. This year, students are concentrating on illiteracy, dropout prevention and school violence.

Members of the Key Club were commended by the council for helping to restore and clean Indian Trail Park on the shores of the Penobscot River.