Searsport

The town’s first zoning ordinance was defeated at annual town meeting Saturday, 140-118, but amendments to the comprehensive plan carried, 166-123.

Opposition to the zoning, or land-use, ordinance was organized, with residents buying newspaper advertisements urging people to defeat it.

Phyllis Sommer, chairwoman of the comprehensive plan committee that worked on the zoning ordinance, said Monday opposition seemed to be tied to concern about a loss of landowner rights. “They want to be able to use their land as they see fit,” she said.

And a segment of residents wants to see commercial development in town to broaden the property tax base and create jobs. “There’s a large group of people who want to see development on a grand scale,” Sommer said.

But Sommer said the ordinance would cover only new development. And she believes new development could change the town significantly.

“I have been here 31 years, and I have seen huge changes. A community not prepared is a community willing to give up its identity,” she said.

Sommer said businesses prefer to come to communities with clear land-use regulations so that they know what the rules are – and what development might come later.

Several amendments to the comprehensive plan, which first won approval in October 2002, met with more general support. Sommer said the committee held hearings on changes proposed for five districts in town, and recorded public comment and incorporated the suggestions into the document.

The amendments created two new commercial districts and one new residential district.

“All those amendments made the comprehensive plan more friendly, if you will,” she said.

Sommer pledged to bring the zoning ordinance back at town meeting next year.

North Haven

Islanders approved a 2006 budget Saturday. It includes borrowing $1.75 million to repave 17 miles of the island roads.

Town Administrator John Marcarelli said Monday that all town meeting articles were approved by voters at the annual meeting with one amendment.

Taxpayers voted to add $2,000 to the $38,000 fire department budget, bringing the total amount to $40,000.

In addition to borrowing $1.75 million through the Maine Municipal Bond Bank, the town will take $500,000 from a paving reserve account to pay for the paving project. The island roads have not been resurfaced in 15 years.

At town meeting, voters also approved a six-month moratorium on subdivisions. The request was by the planning board as a “proactive” measure while the town is updating its comprehensive plan and land use and subdivision ordinances.

The $1,170,820 municipal budget reflects a 7.6 percent increase over last year. After subtracting revenues and surplus totaling $424,725, the amount to be raised from property taxes is about $744,095, up roughly 7.49 percent.

Because the budget exceeds the 4.75 percent increase allowed under LD 1, voters had to separately approve the higher budget increase, which they did. The budget exceeded the amount allowed under law by $26,575, Marcarelli said.

Neither Knox County nor SAD 7 assessments for 2006 have been determined, therefore, he did not yet know what the new tax rate will be. The 2005 tax rate is $10.05 per $1,000 of assessed value.

In a series of votes from the floor, incumbent Selectwoman Linda Darling was re-elected to a three-year term, as was newcomer Louis Carrier. SAD 7 Director David Cooper was unopposed for a three-year seat. Joette Adams was elected to a three-year assessor’s seat.

St. George

Townspeople will gather tonight to vote on a $2 million municipal budget and decide whether to buy a new fire engine.

The $275,000 fire engine would replace a 1978 Ford truck and would be fully paid for with reserve funds, Town Manager John Falla said Monday. Delivery of a new truck would take six months to a year, Fire Chief Tim Polky said Monday.

The $2,054,309 municipal budget is up 8.9 percent over last year’s figure, while the amount to be paid for through property taxes is $1,287,809, which represents a 30.7 percent increase. The main reason for the steep rise in the net budget is that there was a big decrease in motor vehicle excise tax revenues this year, Falla said.

It is the first time in 20 years that those revenues dropped. Also, the town no longer receives funding from the Grace Institute for domestic educational programs. Last year, the town received $70,000 from the institute, Falla noted, and in previous years, $100,000. The town also renegotiated its cable television franchise, which represented a $12,000 loss in revenues.

The proposed budget includes a 6 percent pay increase for the town manager, who will earn $70,161, for the second year of his three-year contract.

There is no across-the-board pay increase for employees, he said, explaining that each worker receives salary increases based on similar pay for the region, cost-of-living and merit.

The 2006 budget has no new employee positions or other major purchases, he said.

All of the elected town officer positions voted on at the polls Monday were uncontested, according to Falla.

The annual town meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, in the fire station meeting room.