LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen decided Tuesday night to proceed with a special town meeting, assured there was a warrant for it although none was on site at the fire station.
Prior to the meeting, attorney Clint Boothby of Livermore, who was to be elected as moderator, asked if the warrant was available for the ordinances to be voted on.
After speaking with Town Clerk Doris Austin, selectmen and Deputy Clerk Alex Pawson, Boothby told the board there didn’t appear to be a standard warrant for a town meeting. The names of the four ordinances were written but the questions asking voters to adopt each of them, the election of a moderator and calling the meeting were missing.
He told them he was not the town’s attorney, but if they went forward and someone complained later they may have to hold the meeting again.
Pawson and Austin each said they believed there was a warrant for the vote but they didn’t have it with them.
“We’ve always been good at crossing our Ts and dotting our Is,” Selectman Bruce Peary said.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, there was no confirmation of an official warrant, though Sun Journal asked for it.
During the meeting, resident Clayton Putnam asked why the vote on the ordinances was being held at a special town meeting and not at the polls during the April 25 annual Town Meeting.
Historically, more people vote at the polls than at a special town meetings, he said.
Selectman Will Kenniston said the ordinances were not ready in time.
There were 153 voters in April compared to about 30 Tuesday night.
The Solar Energy Systems Ordinance was approved 16-11. It establishes a municipal review of solar system development. It establishes guidelines, procedure and performance standards and time frames. It is expected to permit the town to fairly and responsibly protect public health, safety and welfare and minimize adverse effects of solar development on land use.
Voters approved a revised Special Amusement Ordinance, 22-2. It includes a section on amplification devices and adds some restrictions to address noise control, Select Board Chairman Jim Long said. It includes fees for a regular special amusement permit and a fee for a sound amplification permit.
Voters rejected a revised Medical Marijuana Establishment Licensing Ordinance, 20-7. Some residents thought the proposal needed more work and that the town shouldn’t regulate the businesses because they don’t regulate alcohol, cigarettes, grocery shops, or other businesses.
Selectmen and other town leaders said they had received complaints from residents and those in the same business.
Kenniston said the ordinance would limit the number of retail stores to three in the village area and there could be an unlimited number outside of it.
There are six retail stores, four on Main Street, one on Pleasant Street and one on Baldwin Street, all in the downtown village area. There are also two marijuana cultivation facilities on Baldwin Street.
If one of the store closes, it would not be replaced.
One resident said she was all for commerce and thought the businesses could “weed themselves” out.
Kenniston said he agreed and didn’t think the town should regulate the businesses.
“I believe the ordinance needs severe amendments,” Selectman Jim Cyr said,
Some were in favor of more regulation of the businesses for different reasons, including odor.
The state also regulates medical marijuana businesses.
Voters also rejected the Mobile Food Vendor Licensing Ordinance, 19-10. Some said it needed more work.
The ordinance would have given the town more control over where the vendors could be located and to make sure the businesses were sanitary, among other regulations. The state also regulates these.
Nonprofit groups would have to apply for a license but the fee could be waived under the ordinance, Code Enforcement Officer Brandon Hobbs said. The application fee for a town license is $200.
All three budget related articles passed at the polls Tuesday, after errors on the April 25 warrant were corrected.
Voters approved carrying forward amounts, 39-2. They include about $6,592 for summer recreation; about $225,294 for paving; and $73,000 for the Transfer Station.
They also voted 33-8 to raise and appropriate $38,000 for summer recreation.
By a vote of 21-20 voters approved increasing the property tax levy limit established for Livermore Falls by state law in the event the municipal budget approved for 2023-24 will result in a tax commitment that is greater than the property tax levy limit.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.