Town meetings

Stonington

Voters at the annual town meeting Monday adopted changes to the town’s clam ordinance that mirrored changes adopted in Deer Isle last month.

The ordinance changes generated the most discussion at the meeting, according to Town Manager Kathleen Billings-Pezaris.

In secret ballots, voters approved an increase in the license fees from $100 to $400 for resident commercial licenses and from $200 to $600 for nonresident licenses. They also approved a requirement for diggers to complete seven hours of conservation work before they receive their licenses.

After a similar decision in Deer Isle, the voters rejected a ban on night digging in the town.

Voters in both Stonington and Deer Isle re-elected two incumbents to serve on the CSD school committee, but an oversight has called that election into question. Superintendent Robert Webster said Tuesday he forgot to prepare a warrant for the school committee to sign so it could be posted before the vote Monday. Although voters cast ballots in both towns, the lack of a warrant may negate the results.

“We’re working on that right now,” Webster said. “We’re looking at legal advice from the school attorney and from Maine Municipal Association.”

It is likely that the two committee members, Don Sargent of Deer Isle and Lawrence “Skip” Greenlaw of Stonington, who ran unopposed, will continue to serve, either through a second election or by being appointed by the selectmen in their respective towns.

Voters approved the items in the municipal budget, which this year totals $1,189,007 – an increase of a little more than $70,000, which, according to Billings-Pezaris, is below the increase set by state law. During a year such as this one, she said, it was difficult to keep budget increases to a minimum.

“It’s been a tough economic year for people,” she said. “The selectmen have tried to keep the taxes the same. But it has been hard. The cost of so many things has gone up so drastically.”