AVON – Residents will choose a new first selectman at Saturday’s town meeting, as well as make decisions on wind power regulation and two other ordinances.
First Selectman Bob Ellis said he was not running for reelection at town meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. on March 19 at the town office. Ellis, who is in the process of moving out of state, will be replaced by a resident nominated from the floor.
Avon will also need to decide whether it wants to approve a wind power ordinance, which Ellis said was based on regulations created by a Phillips committee last year. That ordinance, which uses a formula developed by an acoustic engineer and creates setbacks based on decibel levels and blade flicker, was also the basis for regulations approved unanimously at an New Vineyard town meeting earlier this month. Avon had previously approved a moratorium on wind power development so time could be given to draft the ordinance.
Two other ordinances include subdivision regulations, which mirror Maine laws but allow the town to administer such developments locally rather than using the state’s guidelines and process, as well as a dog ordinance. Ellis said that selectmen and residents assumed that Avon already had an ordinance regulating barking dogs and nuisance animals, but some research revealed that the ordinance was never actually enacted.
“Our animal control officer can’t do anything,” Ellis said.
Municipal expenditures are down $4,000 from the 2010 budget of $161,000, which itself is down from the 2009 budget’s $167,000. No major capital improvements or purchases are planned.
“We just encourage people to come out,” Ellis said.
oh my!! another smart town. bless you no industrial wind.