CHESTERVILLE — Residents at Thursday night’s public hearing generally supported articles on liquor sales and land use ordinance changes added to the March 12 annual town meeting warrant.

Tiffany Estabrook, acting chairwoman of the Board of Selectman, said adopting laws on liquor sales in town would be the first step to cover all the bases for such businesses.

“This will pave the way if it passes,” Selectman Edward Hastings IV said.

Robert Wheeler, owner of The Corner Store, petitioned the town to have four articles on liquor sales on the warrant. They are:

• To permit an agency liquor store in town and to allow sales on Sundays.

• To permit  an agency liquor store in town and to allow sales Monday through Saturday.

• To issue a license to consume liquor on premises on Sundays.

• To issue a license to consume liquor on premises Monday through Saturday.

Wheeler said there would be no alcohol consumption at his store. 

Resident Maitland Lord Jr. said it is a good idea to get laws in place because others may want to open such businesses in town and that would help the tax base.

Hastings said selectmen in some towns approve liquor licenses for bars and other businesses.

“Licensing bars isn’t included here,” Lord said. “That may have to be put to the voters in an ordinance.”

Some provisions of the revised Regular Land Use Ordinance also drew comments from the dozen people at the hearings.

The ordinance gives the code enforcement officer authority to administer all regulations, including state and federal land use laws, and to enter any property with just cause and permission from the landowner or occupant to check for violations. If permission is not granted, legal action may be taken.

“I checked with Maine Municipal Association,” Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Medcoff said. “By the letter of the law, if no one is there and I step onto a property, I’ve already broken the ordinance. If no one is outside or where I can get their attention, I will have to call or return to the office to find out who owns the property.”

Estabrook said legal action could mean having a police officer there, not a court order.

In another issue with the ordinance, Lord said it provides an option for landowners or the town to install required culverts. The landowner would provide them based on minimum specifications for the particular road.

Resident Anne Lambert said the ordinance states a preference for the town to do installations.

Lord said it is better to do that because of liability.

The ordinance would require notifications, not permits, for new buildings or additions of more than 200 square feet. It would not cover properties in the shoreland zone or in subdivisions.

If the revised ordinance is approved, copies of all notifications would go to the code enforcement officer, the assessor and the Town Office.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net 

Selectmen Matt Welch, left, Tiffany Estabrook and Edward Hastings IV discuss town warrant articles on liquor sales and a land use ordinance during Thursday night’s public hearing. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)