PARIS – A revised subdivision ordinance will go to a town vote in June, after several public hearings are held.

A citizens petition with 253 signatures was delivered to the town by attorney Dana Hanley’s office in late December; 211 signatures were required for the petition to be considered.

The petition asks for a special town meeting to be held within 60 days to act on a revised ordinance presented anonymously to the town in November. A summary of the proposed revision says the document intends to encourage “local rule and greater citizen involvement,” as well as a “less litigious environment,” better town-landowner relations, and better competition with the ordinances in surrounding towns.

Town attorney Geoffrey Hole told selectmen Monday that the petition is valid, and a vote could be held at a special town meeting or at the June 9 referendum vote. Selectmen voted 3-1 in favor of a referendum, and 4-0 in favor of holding public hearings at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month before the referendum.

Selectmen David Ivey, who voted against the referendum, said he supported holding a special town meeting.

“We need another lawsuit like we need a hole in the head,” Ivey said. “This is a good opportunity to put the whole thing to rest.”

Chairman Raymond Glover said putting the ordinance to a referendum would coincide with two ordinances already scheduled for a June vote and involve a greater number of residents.

The subdivision ordinance dominated the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting. Former chairman Ernest Fitts III cited a decision by a group of landowners to post their land as a protest against the ordinance, a move which has cut off access to some recreational trails. Fitts said landowners are concerned over possible implications of the current ordinance, including the need to put in a paved road even if a subdivider does not want to develop the land.

Resident Rick Jackson said the ordinance negatively affects people who want to subdivide land for such uses as lumbering.

“It’s not always about putting a house on a piece of land,” he said.

Resident Franca Ainsworth said she was disappointed in the decision to post the land, saying “it looks like spitefulness more than anything else” to outsiders who don’t know the history of the conflict over the ordinance.

Selectman Glen Young said he has bought seven pieces of land to attach to his family farm, and the land is now considered one piece of property. Young said he considers it too expensive to subdivide with the current rules, and that he has been the target of acts of intimidation including a fire set at the farm and someone killing his daughter’s heifer.

“I ain’t doing this to be spiteful,” Young said. “I’m trying to get some attention and get help.”

The ordinance passed 487-468 in a June 2007 vote and was the subject of much controversy during 2008. A committee was formed by a 3-2 vote of selectmen to review the ordinance after resident Ron Fitts submitted several proposed changes to the board. The committee was later dissolved after resident Robert Moorehead filed suit against two selectmen, charging conflict of interest in the formation of the committee.

Rick Jackson estimated that thousands of acres of land were posted in protest of the ordinance in November. That same month, the revised ordinance was given to the town. Its recommendations include allowing appeals to go before the Board of Appeals; allowing subdivisions to use gravel roads instead of paved roads; allowing the Planning Board to issue waivers; having the code enforcement officer enforce but not interpret the ordinance; and other changes.

Copies of the revised ordinance are available at the town office.