KENNEBUNKPORT (AP) – Voters have tightened restrictions for mass-gathering permits in Kennebunkport, home to former President George H.W. Bush, following three large peace demonstrations over the past two summers.

The revisions approved on Election Day shift responsibility for issuing permits from the police department to the Board of Selectmen.

The rules also require organizers of events with more than 500 participants to take out a surety bond as insurance against private property damage.

Jamilla El-Shafei, organizer of the peace demonstrations, says the new rules could be used to discriminate against unwanted political demonstrations. And the Maine Civil Liberties Union says the rules might be unconstitutional because they could restrict free speech.

Town Manager Larry Mead says the ordinance doesn’t single out political demonstrations. Instead, it was drawn up because of damage to private property by a traveling circus that comes to town each year, Mead said.

A similar ordinance in Augusta that required a fee for a mass-gathering permit was challenged in U.S. District Court, where a judge found portions of it to be unconstitutional. The city appealed, and the case has not been decided.

Mat Lanigan, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said the Kennebunkport ordinance was vetted by the town attorney before going on the ballot.

“We made sure our attorney looked at it. She said it was fine,” Lanigan said. “Obviously, there’s opinions on both sides of it. It got passed by the residents, so we’re going to implement it. … If someone challenges it, we’ll go from there.”

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com

AP-ES-11-08-07 1130EST

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