TURNER – The annual town meeting begins Friday with elections and reconvenes Saturday morning to consider 54 articles, including the adoption of a new zoning ordinance.
The formation of the ordinance has upset some residents, who have spoken out at public meetings and hearings. The ordinance does not include what is being called the critical rural areas and their attached transfer of development rights.
According to members of the Zoning Review Committee, the public outcry over those portions was so great that more time was needed to consider and discuss them.
Controversy over the new zoning ordinance did not disappear with those concessions from the committee, and it is expected that a number of citizens will speak out against the ordinance’s adoption. That discussion, however, will have to wait until the end of the meeting, because it is the last article to be considered.
An article concerning moving the town office from its present location to the Leavitt Institute Building in Turner Center has been taken off of the warrant. That article, according to the town’s legal counsel, could have directed officials to take illegal steps under agreements made with the SAD 52 Board of Directors.
However, an article asking for $100,000 to be added to the addition and renovation fund for the town office at its current location could result in extensive discussion. Residents have appropriated $178,000 for that purpose, and the $100,000 would allow the addition to go forward in the near future.
Large money articles on the warrant include $30,000 for the Fire Department equipment reserve fund, $15,000 for the rescue equipment fund, $50,000 for the highway department equipment fund, almost $200,000 for the transfer station operation and $350,000 for road paving.
According to Town Manager Jim Catlin, if the warrant articles are approved at the recommended amounts, the town’s budget will rise only slightly due to offsets from expected revenues.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Leavitt Area High School cafeteria, and the Friends of Turner Rescue will be providing baked goods for breakfast and lunch at noon.
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