MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council held public hearings Wednesday on the 2023 municipal budget, eliminating the residency requirement for the town manager and amending 13 land use ordinances.

Afterward, councilors approved placing the $3.16 million municipal spending plan on the June 14 ballot. The proposal is $146,600 more than this year’s budget.

Major increases include pensions/insurance by $79,219 and $52,596 more for the Police Department, as well as $23,076 more for the Androscoggin County assessment.

Amending the residency requirement will also be on the June 14 ballot.

The amendments to the land use ordinances proposed by the Planning Board involved adding the rural zone to prohibited zones for marijuana activities.

An amended ordinance will also allow existing marijuana retail businesses to expand on the same parcel and “be treated as a single marijuana retail.”

Only four marijuana retail facilities are permitted in town.

The other land use amendments dealt with clarifying the definition of multiple dwelling units, two-family dwellings, accessory dwelling units and imposing a time limit on all general developments.

Also approved was an ordinance requiring landowners to provide a “suitable sewer disposal plan” for each campsite on their lot, submit a plan to the code enforcement officer within seven days and have it approved by the plumbing inspector.

The council approved the changes to the ordinances.

In a related matter, Planning Board meetings have been changed to 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. The council meets the first Monday of each month.

Shannon Sturgis was approved as a new member to the Planning Board.

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