Ogunquit News
Ogunquit adds two items to warrant
By C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - Ogunquit selectmen voted to add two items to the June warrant at their meeting of May 9. The items involving the acceptance of a petition to extend outside dining in the Limited Business District, and to add the purchase of a police vehicle, made it onto the warrant just under the wire as Town Clerk Judy Shaw-Kagiliery said the warrant was due to go to print the next day.Budget Review Committee members voted against the article pertaining to the police vehicle which is earmarked to replace the lieutenant's car, saying that the initial request was for one vehicle costing up to $37,000 and the fact that that vehicle came in under budget at a cost of $28,000 does not mean the town can use the remaining money to purchase a second vehicle. The BRC, on the grounds that the town charter does not allow for the item to go on the June special warrant as it is a capital expense, said the proposal should wait until the next April for voter approval.
The lieutenant's vehicle has 135,000 miles on it and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, John Miller, said he was told "it's on its last legs". The replacement vehicle that has been chosen is a Crown Victoria currently owned by the York Police Department and has only 100,000 miles on it and has been reconditioned.
Selectman John Abbott said he wasn't in favor of purchasing a second hand vehicle and would prefer to wait until the next budget season to add a new vehicle to the fleet.
The item will appear on the ballot with a preference vote of 4-0 against from the Budget Review Committee and a 3-1 in favor, with Abbott voting against the item.
Selectmen also approved an item brought forward by citizen petition to allow Type 2 restaurants (those who provide outside dining) in the Limited Business District subject to site plan review. Seventy-eight signatures were required, 89 were received and 81 were declared valid to bring the petition, which was initiated by Jim Hartwell of Hartwell House on Shore Road, forward on the June warrant. If it passes, selectmen could face as many as 15 requests from restaurants along Shore Road for permission to add outside seating to their restaurants, most of which exist in areas surrounded by residential properties.
The Planning Board has a public meeting scheduled for its agenda on Tuesday, May 22 and the Board of Selectmen has a public meeting scheduled on the item for its meeting of June 6.
C. Ayn Douglass can be reached via email at cayndouglass@yorkindependent.net
