PARIS – The Board of Selectmen took a stand on four referendum questions and one town meeting article at its meeting Thursday night.

While the board’s recommendations cannot be included on the ballot, the board opted to voice its opinion on the different ordinances before voters, as well as an amended agreement regarding Norway-Paris Solid Waste.

Selectmen voted 4-1 to not support a revised subdivision ordinance presented by petition in December. If enacted, the ordinance will replace one that passed in 2007 by a 487-468 vote.

The revised ordinance includes several amendments to the existing document, including allowing subdivision roads to meet gravel rather than paved road standards, consolidating the application process to remove major or minor subdivisions, allowing appeals to go before the Board of Appeals rather than the Superior Court, and eased fire suppression requirements.

Both the selectmen and Planning Board have previously recommended that the new ordinance not pass, saying it would be difficult to put into practice and could compromise public safety.

Selectman Glen Young, the sole supporter of the ordinance on the board, said the petitioned document aimed to present an ordinance that was more in line with those of neighboring towns.

“It’s the Paris citizens, and out-of-staters, a lot of people are going to lose out,” Young said.

Selectmen unanimously supported the amended Norway-Paris Solid Waste agreement. Changes include the expansion of the NPSW board from five to seven members, more frequent meetings and hiring a manager to hire and supervise employees.

Chairman Raymond Glover said the amendments updated the agreement, which was signed in 2003, based on the experience of the two towns with the organization. Some NPSW board members have criticized the amendments, however, with board President Ray Garnett saying that the two transfer stations already have supervisors working at them.

Selectmen also unanimously voted to support the shoreland zoning, flood-plain management, and dog control ordinances.

The shoreland zoning ordinance was imposed on the town by the state Board of Environmental Protection in 1993, and Town Manager Sharon Jackson said such an action would occur again if the ordinance is voted down. The ordinance would add updates to bring it into compliance with Department of Environmental Protection regulations for conservation purposes such as erosion control and prevention of water pollution.

The flood plain ordinance evaluates areas at risk of flooding, uses land use and control to prevent damages, and allows residents to be eligible for federal flood insurance. It was adopted in 1991, and the update will include new maps bringing the ordinance into compliance with federal regulations.

The dog control ordinance will update a document adopted in 1972 and amended in 1979.