NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen have agreed to fund only part of a proposal to inventory inconsistencies in the town’s zoning and subdivision ordinances, despite initial protest from the board chairman.

The board agreed to pay $2,976 from Tax Increment Financing funds generated from Pineland Center. That TIF segregates funds that can be used to pay for the impact from Pineland’s development on growth in the community.

Town Planner James Isaacson and Code Enforcement Officer Debby Parks told the five-member board that Greater Portland Council of Governments can conduct the review and recommend housekeeping and substantive updates to the town’s ordinances. In addition, the review will also include a Transfer of Development Rights proposal that’s in the works by the town’s Zoning Committee. That proposal is expected to seek voter approval in May.

“This draft proposal’s primary objective is to address ordinance ambiguity and conflicts arising from multiple amendments of the zoning ordinance and, to a lesser extent, from amendments to the subdivision ordinance over the years,” said Isaacson and Park in a memo to the board.

“These are all problems that unnecessarily complicate understanding, compliance with, and administration of these ordinances for applicants, property owners, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals members, as well as for the town and planner and the code enforcement officer, acting on behalf of the town and the public,” said Isaacson and Parks.

“We don’t have time to sit down for the inconsistencies and omissions. We have our plate full. There is a trickle down effect for correcting amendments.”

Board Chairman Steve Libby called the proposal from GPCOG “dramatically different for more than is necessary.”

“I have trouble with GPCOG model ordinance,” said Libby, adding that GPCOG’s planner doesn’t know New Gloucester, but the town’s planner does.

However, New Gloucester’s planner said he needs the technical support to balance his many faceted work load now.

Selectman Steve Chandler said the town’s future growth is adversely impacted by tasking volunteers and the town planner to perform the detail job of drafting zoning ordinance writing.

Chandler said, “If we further dilute our long term needs, then we chase a fly with an elephant. Sprawl is on us as white as snow.”

“How can we do long range planning when we’re not following a path,” said Selectman Kevin Sullivan.

The board agreed to send the first phase of the planner and the code enforcement officer’s request report to Don Libby, who chairs the Zoning Committee and Jean Libby, chairman of the Planning Board. Jean Libby and Donald Libby are Chairman Steve Libby’s mother and brother.