Deer Isle

Voters at the annual town meeting Monday approved a ban on internal combustion engines on Lily Pond.

The selectmen had proposed the ban in an effort to protect the waters from pollution. According to First Selectman Neville Hardy, the selectmen consider the pond a potential source for a town water supply if it is needed in the future.

With the affirmative decision from the voters, the proposed ban will be sent to the state Legislature for enactment. The town had previously sought the ban from the Legislature, but legislators required the local vote before they would act on the proposal.

There was little controversy at Monday’s meeting. Voters approved the municipal budget with only one addition. At Hardy’s suggestion during the session, they added $16,000 to the snow removal account, increasing that budget line item to $67,000. Hardy said the heavy snows this year forced the increase in that account.

That decision pushed the overall budget to just more than $1 million. The amount to be raised from taxes also increased by $53,258 to $371,741.

Residents will vote on the CSD budget later this year.