Damariscotta voters questioned town officials about a police sub station, a road with a disputed heritage and the need to build a new fence for the cemetery during the annual town meeting June 10.
Convening at the venerable Lincoln Theater on Elm Street, residents skirted one of the most controversial issues, a new Shoreland Zoning ordinance that contains provisions mandated by the state, and continued efforts to repair and replace the town owned clock in the steeple of the First Baptist Church.
In the end, the voters approved spending $2.38 million contained in 40 separate warrant articles.
That figure includes $1.99 million for municipal government operations and $386,133 for county government.
The town’s portion to be raised from property taxes is down $65,189 from last year, according to Greg Zinser, the town manager.
Discussion on the police centered on an item authorizing $386,000 for police department operations.
James Campbell spoke against the figure calling the proposed sum “a bunch of baloney.”
“This is way too much to spend when traffic is always fouled-up in town and backed up during the summer, when we never have a police officer on the street to alleviate the (car and pedestrian) traffic,” he said.
He also criticized the town plan to open a sub station downtown in a donated store front office.
Police chief Steven R. Drake Chief said the sub station was an attempt to increase the police presence downtown, noting it was a summer-long experiment that did not cost the town any money.
A citizen petition to require the town to take over Heater Rd., an unpaved road leading from Biscay Road to the town salt shed and several residences, was defeated despite a plea from homeowners who said it was impassable in certain circumstances.
However, the voters approved a competing article empowering the town officials to negotiate steps to acquire title to the land under the road. The same voters decided not to spend any money, preferring to wait until the town officials figure out a way to acquire the land.
The new Shoreland Zoning ordinance, which proposes stricter resource protection zones, was tabled after Board of Selectmen chairman Dick McLean said the town had failed to notify all interested parties of hearings. He said the hearing process must be repeated.
The only amendment offered from the floor that increased spending was one that sought to increase the amount budgeted for the cemetery account by $3000 to help repair walls and repair iron fencing. It passed 27 to 13.
Town officials sought, and received permission to continue their efforts to clear the title to the Municipal Parking lot.
The town owns about two-thirds of the parking lot and controls the rest through easements, but those easements require the town to use it as a parking lot, Zinser said.
The town now uses the lot for community events and is studying ways to develop it for additional uses.
“There are many funding sources available to renovate or change the lot, but we need to own it,” Zinser said.
Voters approved the officials’ plan to put $5000 into a reserve fund to help repair and replace the town owned clock in the steeple of the historic First Baptist Church, a town landmark currently being restored.
Mary Trescott, a member of the steeple restoration committee, said the group has raised $331,000 and still needs $150,000 to complete the job.
“It is sad not to see the clock,” said a voter.
Another voter suggested that Newcastle town residents also benefit from seeing the clock and wondered if they would be willing to help pay for the restoration.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” said another voter, drawing laughs from the crowd.
