WILTON — The Wilton Board of Selectpersons voted unanimously on Tuesday, April 23, to accept a correction that was made for the water budget that was submitted earlier this year. The correct total for the water department’s budget for the upcoming 2024/2024 fiscal year is $713,879.
The total was originally set for $711,580 and was accepted by the Select Board at a meeting in February. According to Town Manager Maria Greeley, the incorrect number was a clerical error and does not affect any of the items budgeted for the water department.
Greeley accredited Utility Clerk Michelle Howatt for discovering the error.
In other business, the Select Board set a public hearing for Tuesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. The hearing will discuss the disposal of tax acquired property as authorized by warrant article 57 for the town of Wilton. The property, which is located at 200 Pond Road, was foreclosed and the resident asked to be given the opportunity to make a payment and keep the property, according to Greeley.
“A new law, since our last warrant article was written, states that we are now required to offer the property back to the owner prior to the tax acquired property sale process,” Greeley told the board.
The law in question, LD 101 “An Act to Return to the Former Owner Any Excess Funds Remaining After the Sale of Foreclosed Property”, was passed by Maine Legislature late last June, shortly after Wilton’s annual town meeting.
The bill mandates municipal officers must provide the prior owners of tax-acquired property with advance notice of the intent to sell the property and those municipalities must distribute excess sale proceeds to the prior owner.
Greeley stated the town would be amending the future town warrant article to fall in line with the state legislature.
The Select Board voted to hire an outside agency to review and make suggestions on the licensing and fees for cannabis operations in the town. Selectperson Keith Swett made the motion, suggesting that it would help the town keep its licensing and fees for cannabis operations accurate.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Chairperson Tiffany Maiuri told the board, adding that the state will reimburse the cost of hiring an outside agency.
Selectperson David Leavitt added that it was suggested at a previous meeting that the fees were “wholly inaccurate”.
The Select Board adjusted licensing fees early last year after several cannabis operations came forward and expressed dissatisfaction with the cost of licenses and fees when compared to the level of inspection they receive.
In February of last year, the Select Board voted to reduce the cost of inspection fees for retail/medical marijuana stores from $1,333 to $100. Shortly thereafter, in March the Select Board voted to reduce the tier one license renewal rates for marijuana cultivation.
At that same meeting, former town manager Perry Ellsworth shared a table graph that showed how Wilton’s renewal rates for marijuana cultivation matched up with other towns. At the time, Farmington was considerably lower at $250 while Jay had its tier one fee set at $1,500.
The Select Board directed Greeley to begin soliciting agencies and to check with the Office of Cannabis Policy for a reputable agency.
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