Historic Resources Committee to press select board for HPO workshop ahead of November vote

The Historic Resources Committee voted to pursue a structured workshop with the select board to determine whether the town should move forward with a municipal historic preservation ordinance and to set a path toward a possible November warrant article.

Committee Chair said the group has formally requested a spot on the select board agenda and that the aim of the workshop is to present a short list of the key “sticking points,” solicit the board’s input, and walk away with a clear sense of whether the board supports drafting ordinance language. Chair said the committee is aiming for a November vote and that missing a July workshop would make that timeline unlikely.

The committee cited guidance from Maine Preservation that argued a demolition-delay ordinance can quickly resemble a full preservation ordinance and that, without a proper ordinance, owners could engage in “demolition by neglect.” In the meeting Chair said the committee’s mandate and public backing support advancing the work: “we are historic preservation historic resources committee. You know, our job is to preserve the history of the in this town,” and later urged moving ahead: “we should move forward with what we've been charged to do without compromise.”

Committee members agreed the workshop should be tightly structured. One member recommended the committee identify roughly six to eight divisive issues, prepare recommendations for each, and ask the select board to respond on each point rather than hold an open-ended forum. Chair said town attorney Bill would draft warrant language based on the committee’s deliverables and that the committee would produce a one- to two-page voter guide summarizing the ordinance and the eight sticking points for use on the warrant and in outreach.

Brian, identified in the meeting, expressed support: “I think we should go ahead with it.” Members discussed logistics including whether existing demolition-delay provisions would need to be removed if a new ordinance takes effect and whether staffing or costs would increase; Chair said additional staff salary was not expected.

Next steps: the committee will press for a late-July workshop with the select board, prepare a focused packet (including a two-page summary for voters), and expand public outreach—suggestions included additional public workshops, district block parties, and a newspaper summary—before any November vote.