Damariscotta residents will consider adopting a comprehensive plan and changes to the shoreland zoning and subdivision ordinances at annual town meeting, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10 and 11.
Residents will also set the municipal budget. The total municipal budget recommended by the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen is $2,644,201. The budget committee recommended $2,646,050.
The two bodies disagreed on the amount of a pay increase for three town office employees. The selectmen propose a 3 percent increase and the budget committee a 5 percent increase. The difference is $1,849.
Comprehensive plan
The 2014 comprehensive plan would guide planning activity for the next 10 years. The plan represents more than 100 meetings of the Damariscotta Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee with consultants, town staff, and residents, including five public hearings over a period of two years.
The plan’s introduction states its purpose is “to improve the manner in which services and facilities are provided to the town’s residents and businesses.” This is the same goal set forth in the previous plan in 2000.
The plan is not a law but a guide serving as the foundation for the town’s land use standards and regulations. State law requires that the town’s zoning ordinances and map be consistent with the plan.
The plan enables the town to more readily and easily apply for grant funding. Damariscotta Town manager Matt Lutkus said “virtually every grant application asks if the town has a current comprehensive plan.”
According to Damariscotta Town Planner Anthony Dater, several agencies move a town higher on their priority list if a comprehensive plan is in place, particularly the Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development administers the Community Development Block Grant Program. The ongoing Chapman Street improvement project is funded through this program.
The plan sets community development goals in numerous categories with strategies for achieving them. The categories include quality of schools, housing, local economic enhancement, adequate public facilities, public transportation, pedestrian and bicycle pathways, natural and marine resources, cultural resources, and recreation and open space.
Damariscotta Selectman and Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Chairman Ronn Orenstein said the plan is the beginning of the work to ensure the ordinances the town adopts are compatible. “It is only a road map,” he said.
“If we don’t plan the future, the future will happen to us instead,” Orenstein said.
Land use ordinances
The proposed changes in land use ordinances are more technical than substantive, according to Dater.
The shoreland zoning ordinance changes simplify the calculation method used to determine the maximum size of an addition to an existing legal structure near the high-water line.
The current ordinance sets the maximum size of an addition based on both footprint and volume calculations. The proposed change removes the volume calculation and replaces it with a height limit. According to Dater, this is easier to understand, more efficient, and less prone to errors.
The other proposed change is in the subdivision ordinance. According to Dater, a question arose around subdividing or amending an existing subdivision. He said Damariscotta has had no procedure for managing a re-subdivision.
“This will make the ordinance clearer, fairer, and more legally sound, because it establishes a procedure to follow,” he said.
Municipal budget
The budget remains essentially flat with an increase of less than 1 percent.
A bookkeeping change was instituted to provide clearer information about actual costs of town departments. Most insurances were removed from the insurance category and added to the appropriate department where the expense actually occurs.
The funding for Skidompha Library of $21,000 was moved to a different category. The library does not have to submit a petition anymore.
Election and referendum
Damariscotta residents will elect municipal officers and a member of the school committee June 10. Polls at the town office will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Jim Cosgrove and George Parker are running as write-in candidates for two seats on the board of selectmen.
Great Salt Bay Sanitary District Trustee John D. Gallagher is running for re-election unopposed.
Dana Orenstein and Angela Russ are running as write-in candidates for Sally Farrell’s seat on the Great Salt Bay School Committee.
Damariscotta Town Clerk Cheryl Pinkham said voters must be sure to check the box on the ballot for each write-in candidate. “Without the box checked, we can’t count it,” she said.
During the town meeting, three budget committee members and one alternate committee member will be chosen.
The selectmen have nominated incumbent Justin Hagar for one of the regular seats and incumbent Ronald Ranes for the alternate seat. Nominations for the other two positions will be received from the floor.
All terms are for three years.
