Whitefield voters will consider adopting a six-month moratorium on mineral extraction operations in their town when they convene their annual town meeting March 15.
Meeting at the fire station Feb. 4, the Whitefield Board of Selectmen agreed to place a warrant article suggested by the town’s planning board for the warrant.
The planning board formally adopted the proposed article for referral to the selectmen the same evening, in a separate meeting held in the town office next door.
Accepting the draft article, the selectmen indicated the language would be reviewed before the warrant is finalized.
If voters approve it in March, the town would enact a 180-day moratorium on mineral extraction activities in town, retroactive to Jan. 31. If they deem it necessary, the selectmen, after a public hearing, could extend the moratorium up to another 180 days.
Planning board chairman Jim Torbert told the board the moratorium would give the town time to revise its development ordinances and suggested the town consider the proposed ordinance revisions at the polls when the town votes in November.
Torbert said the planning board was reviewing a draft of a potential ordinance, but it had not been reviewed by the full board, or the town’s legal counsel.
The warrant article was part of the board’s overall review of the warrant for the annual town meeting. In total, the board made a few minor language changes and agreed to complete their review of the warrant at their next meeting.
The board did spend considerable time discussing the draft warrant article asking the voters what sum, if any, the town would raise and appropriate for legal fees. The selectmen and budget committee formally recommend $0. The town raised $5000 for the purpose in 2013.
Citing potential legal issues related to the proposed moratorium and the Clary Lake dam, selectmen debated the wisdom of asking for an amount from the floor at annual town meeting.
Board chairman Steve McCormick suggested inviting members of the town’s budget committee and planning board to meet with the selectmen next week for a general discussion about potential legal fees ahead of the annual town meeting.
McCormick said it was a matter of respect for the other board members and he did not want to surprise them at the annual town meeting.
“The chances … with the amount of things we got going on … the chances of us getting into legal fees are good,” McCormick said, adding the $5000 the town budgeted in the past would go quickly if legal action ensued.
In comments, town officials referenced concerns with further activities at the gravel pit on Route 218 as a motivating force. The pit is owned by the Topsham-based contractor Harry C. Crooker and Sons.
As proposed, the draft warrant article states: “To see if the citizens of Whitefield will impose a 180-day moratorium on any new or expanded mineral extraction activities, including sand and or gravel extraction within the town, effective Jan. 31. 2014, until such time as the planning board can develop an ordinance governing such activities within the town and take the same for a town vote.”
Pressed by selectmen Lester Schaeffer, Tolbert and former planning board member Steve Smith explained the Jan. 31 date was selected as the date the moratorium process formally began. Schaeffer questioned why the moratorium wouldn’t go into effect in March, after voters considered the article.
By selecting a January date, Smith and Torbert explained, all mineral extraction applications must wait until voters decide the question.
Otherwise if the town received an application in the interim, the board would have to act on it, Smith said.
Whitefield voters convene their annual town meeting at the Whitefield School, Saturday, March 15. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. The business portion of the town meeting convenes the same day and place at 2 p.m.
