Towne District Select Board appoints local health officer, hears Planning Board on shoreland, lighting and solar rules

The Towne District Select Board appointed Andy Hart as the town’s new local health officer and named John Bean interim codes enforcement officer as it continued work on draft land‑use and shoreland ordinance changes presented by the Planning Board.

A Select Board member moved to appoint Andy Hart as the new local health officer, saying, “I make a motion that we appoint Andy Hart as our new health officer.” The board approved the motion by voice vote. The board then discussed staffing for code enforcement and moved to appoint John Bean as an interim codes enforcement officer to keep permitting and contractor work moving while the town recruits a permanent officer.

The Planning Board presented three related amendment packages — changes to the land‑use ordinance, updates to the shoreland zoning ordinance (including a proposed addition to Section 13 to create a residential district) and a short insertion to the alternate/renewable energy language the board said had been omitted in earlier drafts. Planning Board members said some items are minor (lighting rules) while others are mapping changes that could affect “several few dozen properties,” and they plan additional revisions before seeking public hearing and a special town meeting.

Planning Board members and Select Board members discussed whether provisions about trespass and privacy should be enforced locally or left to law enforcement. A Planning Board member said Maine law already covers trespassing and privacy and cautioned against placing those enforcement duties on a town code officer. On lighting, the board discussed limiting directed lighting that shines onto neighbors’ property while avoiding regulatory burdens on typical household fixtures.

On small‑scale solar, Planning Board members noted the decommissioning language in the current draft was aimed at large installations (solar farms). They said the intent is to avoid imposing the same bonding or financial‑assurance requirements on ordinary rooftop systems. A Planning Board member asked whether decommissioning should require a fee or bond for small residential systems and said the board’s intent is to exempt typical household installations from the commercial standards.

The Planning Board requested a follow‑up meeting and suggested inviting Max Johnstone of the Midcoast Council of Governments to review outstanding items. The groups agreed to coordinate dates and try to provide the 13–34‑day public notification window required for ordinance revisions before scheduling a special town meeting, likely in September; no specific September date was set in the transcript.

Administrative items included a restatement of codes office hours: Ellis Reed is available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for plumbing and septic permits. Officials also announced hazardous waste and shredding day on July 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Salt and Sand Shed, 52 Sanday Hill Road, and a Community Family Fun Day on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cushman Field next to the elementary school. The seasonal taxpayers meeting is set for Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, likely at 6:00 p.m.

Financial matters on the agenda included payroll warrant No. 5 for $15,409.89 and an accounts‑payable warrant for $621,291.48; a Select Board member moved to approve the warrants and the minutes from the July 8 meeting, and the board approved them by voice vote.

In public forum, a resident identified as John Q. reported visiting Acres Lot and finding it in good condition. Another resident described a dangerous passing maneuver on a hill and urged motorists to slow down. The meeting adjourned after a motion and second and a final voice vote.