Lamoine voters approve new conservation fund

LAMOINE – Local voters decided Wednesday to create a new conservation reserve fund at annual town meeting.

The fund will be used to acquire land or easements that can be used for public recreation. Voters also decided to seed the fund with an initial deposit of $1,000, according to Lamoine Administrative Assistant Stu Marckoon.

Overall, a total annual budget of $2.8 million, including school costs, was approved by voters, Marckoon said. This includes a $2,845 boost voters approved to the recommended $3,500 library budget, which ended up being $6,345.

With very little debate, voters also approved an updated Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, according to Marckoon.

“A lot of work went into it,” he said. “It brings it up to state standards.”

In elections on Tuesday, Chris Tadema-Wielandt and incumbent Richard Fennelly each were elected to a three-year term on the board of selectmen, with Tadema-Wielandt taking over the seat vacated by Perry Fowler. Christina Maguire-Harding,

Nancy Sargent and Faith Perkins were elected to the school board, with Maguire-Harding and Sargent taking over for outgoing members Tammy Dickey and Cathi Goebel.

Marckoon said 177 voters attended the Wednesday open floor session of town meeting, which lasted about 4 hours.