CARTHAGE – In one of this small community’s best turnouts at town meeting, residents passed all money articles but one – an effort by the Board of Selectmen to hire a part-time code enforcement officer.

Not only did people turn down that request for $1,500, but they also voted nearly 2-to-1 against setting up a Planning Board.

Selectmen had hoped for more help in an increasingly regulated society by establishing a code enforcement officer and Planning Board. Right now, the three-person board serves informally as both, something Selectman William Houghton said must change.

As it stands now, he said, selectmen take turns on a yearly basis as acting code officer. None of the board is certified, so just before a year is up, the one acting must turn over those duties to another board member. That member then gets temporary permission from the state to serve.

“There are a lot of changes going on in town. We aren’t certified and we’re not comfortable with that. There is a state law to get a CEO,” he said.

According to Maine Municipal Association communication manager, Michael Starn, if a town has a shoreland zoning ordinance, which Carthage does, a code enforcement officer must be in place to enforce shoreland zoning. The trouble is, he noted, that the state passed the law but didn’t provide money for small towns such as Carthage to hire one. Waters affected by shoreland zoning include Half Moon and Podunk ponds, and the Webb River.

Gary Hutchinson said establishing a code enforcement officer and Planning Board were first steps toward socialism. “Right now we are a democracy. We’d lose property rights,” he said. “Having a CEO is like getting a foot in the door.”

Resident Ben Bowie argued that the town has great potential for growth because of the large tracts of timberland being sold off. Because of this, a code officer and a Planning Board were needed to plan for the future.

“This isn’t socialism or communism. It’s just as much a democracy. To have control, we need an elected Planing Board and a CEO,” he said.

Houghton said part of the reason for the traditional March town meeting being held in June this year was because the selectmen had to try to do many of the duties that, in other towns, are usually done by boards and other officials.

Selectmen did get some help, however. Residents approved raising $3,000 for providing clerical assistance for carrying out such tasks as putting together the town report and helping with the accounting. Right now, First Selectman Steve Brown does most of this work.

The issue of a code officer and Planning Board will likely come up again next year. For the past two years, an amorphous group of residents has been meeting with a member of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments to put together a first-ever comprehensive plan.

A portion of the town report lists some of the highlights of a possible plan and land use policy. Moderator Minot Flagg encouraged residents to look them over and think about them before next year’s annual town meeting.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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