Sangerville gives thumbs down to land use proposal Leland elected to Board of Selectmen

SANGERVILLE – Residents on Saturday defeated 40-28 a proposed land use ordinance that would have allowed the town some enforcement against undesirable development.

Some residents who attended the annual town meeting saw the ordinance and its applicable permits as another avenue for government to usurp their rights.

“Government keeps nipping away at our freedom,” resident Bruce Jones said during the meeting. He said there should be some things residents can do with their properties without having to get a permit.

Others agreed, worried that the use of their land might be restricted under the ordinance.

“This is not scary,” George Tozier, the town’s code enforcement officer, said of the ordinance during the meeting. He noted that the town of Parkman has had the same ordinance in place for 15-20 years. “It’s nothing new,” Tozier said.

He said Guilford and other surrounding towns have similar ordinances in place to protect their residents from unwelcome development.

No one in those communities has had development held up by the ordinance nor has anyone had to go to court over it, Tozier said. This ordinance directs and controls development, he said.

Without such an ordinance, a methadone clinic could move to the community, Tozier said.

To make up for the $42,000 loss in state revenue caused by legislative changes in the Homestead Property Tax Act, residents voted to raise the funds from taxation.

For the first time in years, no funds were proposed or approved for any capital projects, including those in pubic works, the fire department, recreation, town hall renovation, Sangerville Days and woodlot preservation.

In other action, residents voted to give no funds to Community Health and Counseling Services, Womancare, Penquis Community Action Program, Pine Tree Hospice and Piscataquis Soil and Water Conservation District.

Harold Leland defeated Leonard Nilson, 38-17, for a seat on the Board of Selectmen. Also elected were Nancy Hall to SAD 4 board of directors, Charles Cleaves to the Sanitary District trustees and Ellen Haley to the SAD 4 board of directors.