AUGUSTA – Hopes by two small eastern Maine communities of abandoning their status as organized municipalities were seriously set back Monday when the Senate refused to pass bills allowing their deorganization.

Separate bills called for allowing Drew Plantation in Penobscot County and Cooper in Washington County to go out of business as towns and join the Unorganized Territory. Drew’s latest census showed about 50 people, and Cooper’s number was about 120.

The deorganization votes in both towns would be subject to local referendums.