Ogunquit News
Ogunquit petitioners receive mixed results at the polls
By C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - Two items brought forward by petition on the June 13 warrant were not unanimously accepted by local voters.Article 5, asking voters to support a request to Maine's two U.S. Senators to request a censure of President George Bush, passed a margin of 70 votes with 211 voting yes and 141 voting no.
Petition organizer Jack Leary said he was happy, but not surprised at the support from the voters.
"Most of the people I talk to don't agree with the policies of Bush," he said. "There must be some conversation to raise awareness. Our senators are considered moderate in the newspapers but we don't feel they are."
Leary said the next step is to meet with Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.
"We hope to meet with the two senators at the end of July and hope to meet with (candidate Jean) Hay Bright and make that part of her platform," he said.
Article 6, asking voters to amend the Ogunquit Zoning Ordinance to allow outside dining in the Limited Business District, was voted down by a margin of almost 2-to-1, with 124 voters saying yes and 226 saying no.
Without the support of both the Ogunquit Planning Board and Board of Selectmen, voters decided against allowing the Shore Road area and Thompson Green commercial establishments the option of serving meals outside.
Planning Board Chairman Steve Wilkos and Vice Chairwoman Muriel Freedman said they believe the Planning Board has enough on its plate to bring ordinances into agreement with the Comprehensive Plan. That must be accomplished by November Wilkos said.
"I feel the voters and residents made an intelligent and informed decision," Wilkos said. "Personally, I like outside dining but that (the LBD) was zoned that way for a reason."
Freedman said the voters have showed their preference in their vote.
"We have been mandated with the Comprehensive Plan and it has to be done by November and that isn't one of the issues that's part of the Comp Plan," she said.
Petition organizer Jim Hartwell noted that, "It was an almost two-one vote against, but look how many people cam out to vote. It doesn't surprise me with the low voter turnout. I felt I was supported (on the issue) but not everyone who supports you comes out to vote. The Planning Board came out totally against it and the question is why? Why did the Planning Board reject this so thoroughly when all the (controls) are in the ordinance for lighting and noise?"
Hartwell said he would keep his options open and possibly plan to revive the issue for a general election when there is a better likelihood of a good voter turnout.
"We got a lot of support because it's a sign of the times," he said.
Contact Ogunquit reporter via e-mail at cayndouglass@yorkindependent.net.
