Council approves amendment

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DEXTER — The Dexter Town Council gave its approval to an amendment to the shoreland zoning ordinance during an Oct. 8 meeting.

This amendment states the ordinance will apply to all land areas within 350 feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of Big Lake Wassookeag and within 250 feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of Little Lake Wassookeag. The amendment also adjusts the timeframe for activities involving earthmoving and the distributing of soils from May 15 to Nov. 1, instead of through October. The digging will still need to be in compliance with all state regulations.

Last month, the council approved another shoreland zoning ordinance amendment as a nonconforming structure may be added to or expanded after obtaining a permit from the same permitting authority as that for a new structure if such an addition or expansion does not increase the nonconformity of the structure and is in compliance with some other specified ordinance subsections.

In other business, the council opted to not sign a three-year contract with Central Maine Pyrotechnics for the Fourth of July fireworks for 2016-18 at $4,300 per year.

Council Chair Michael Blake said he was not sure if he wanted to sign an agreement for multiple years. “I think the best thing to do is two things, No. 1 have a conversation with this guy and everything over $4,000 should go out to bid,” he said. “Let’s be clear, everybody wants the fireworks and everybody enjoys them, let’s just be careful about a contract and going out to bid,” Blake added.

The council decided, after voting down the proposed three-year, $12,900 contract, to send the agreement back to Town Manager Shelley Watson for a fireworks discussion to be placed on a future meeting agenda.

The councilors did sign the election warrant for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Residents heading to the polls, or voting via absentee ballot, will pick two of four candidates for three-year terms on the town council. Those with their names on the ballot are incumbent Blake, Adam D. Briggs, Marcia Delaware and Peter Haskell.

The Dexter Utility District Trustees have two openings, for three years each, but incumbent Matthew McKusick is the only name listed on the ballot.

Three names are on the warrant for a trio of three-year seats on the SAD 46 board of directors, Galen E. Chapman, Joel Costonis and incumbent Gerrard Rudmin. Elizabeth Krista and Linwood A. Mann Jr. are both candidates for a single one-year term on the school board.

Michael Curtis is listed for a three-year term on the HAD 4 board of directors. There is no name listed for a two-year HAD 4 term.