Damariscotta voters adopted a new comprehensive plan and approved a 5 percent pay increase for three town office employees at their annual town meeting June 12.
The voters also approved a $2,648,050 municipal budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, an increase of $26,405 or 1.01 over the current fiscal year.
Effective for the next 10 years, the comprehensive plan is intended to guide Damariscotta’s planning activities by establishing the foundation for the town’s land use standards and regulations.
Maine law requires comprehensive plans for towns that have any zoning ordinances beyond the state-mandated shoreland zoning guidelines. Certain federal and state grant programs require applicant towns to have a comprehensive plan.
Voters approved the higher amount recommended by the Damariscotta Budget Committee for general government expenses at $677,169; $1,849 more than the amount recommended by the board of selectmen.
The selectmen and budget committee differed on the proposed pay increase for town office employees. The budget committee recommended a 5 percent increase while the selectmen backed a 3 percent increase.
Two land use ordinance amendments were approved without dissent from the floor.
A shoreland zoning ordinance amendment establishes a simplified and more understandable method for calculating the maximum size of additions to legal nonconforming cottages in the shoreland zone.
The new subdivision ordinance establishes a procedure for managing a resubdivision.
Voters elected Pat McLean to the Damariscotta Cemetery Board of Trustees. Justin Hagar and Elizabeth Printy were elected as regular members of the budget committee, and Ronald Ranes an alternate member, leaving one regular position vacant.
Martha Scudder proposed that the amount appropriated from trust funds for the worthy poor be increased $2,000 over the $4,000 recommended by the board of selectmen and budget committee. The amendment was approved.
For the second year running, keypad voting was used with voter results projected instantaneously on the Lincoln Theater screen. Fifty-nine voters were present at the the high point of voting.
