By Samantha Stephens, York County Coast Star
OGUNQUIT, Maine â The Select Board heard several proposals for ordinance changes at a meeting held Tuesday, March 19.
Michael Horn, chair for the Conservation Commission, approached the board asking to amend an ordinance that forbids the use of pesticides and herbicides on town lands to be extended to encompass private property as well.
Horn said not only is it safer for the waterways and healthier for the town’s ecology, but there were more than 145,000 calls to poison centers and 65,000 incidents nationwide last year involving children relating to pesticide issues.
If voters approve the ordinance change at the election scheduled for June 11, Ogunquit would be the first municipality in the nation to forbid pesticides townwide.
Resident Don Simpson approached the podium to voice his support.
“I absolutely support it. It benefits pets as well,” Simpson said. “There’s no reason not to support the ordinance change.”
Selectman Chris Jarochym agreed with the ordinance, saying that being environmentally conscious for his own family and children as well as the town is important to him.
In other board news, Judy Dennis, owner of Bandito’s Mexican Grill on Shore Road, submitted a citizen’s petition to extend the business district, currently stretching from School Street south down Shore Road, to the Firemen’s Park, and from Shore Road west along the side of Firemen’s Park to the residential district at the fire station.
Dennis’s request would add an additional 40 yards to the business district on Shore Road. Neighboring restaurants Five-O Shore Road and Frills are currently part of the business district and Dennis is hopeful that her business could be included.
Both issues will be presented again at the next meeting, scheduled for April 2, to hear any public comment before the Board of Selectmen decides whether to put the items up for vote during the June election.
The Board of Selectmen also approved the plans for recognition plaques to be placed on Marginal Way, located to the left of the newly installed geology sign.
The two parallel plaques will be placed on a rock approximately 3 feet tall and each donor name will cost $10,000. The funds raised by the plaques will go toward maintaining Marginal Way.
Ben Hershenson, a member of the Marginal Way Preservation Fund, explained that it takes “many people and many public and private funds” to help ensure the future health and vitality of Marginal Way.
The vote for the plaques resulted in a 3-2 decision with selectmen Jarochym and Bob Winn opposed.
A public hearing to discuss the new public works facility will be held at the Dunaway Center at 6 p.m. March 28 to hear feedback from residents who wish to participate with the process before the location for the building is announced at an upcoming Board of Selectmen meeting.
