March 16

Canaan voters limit wind projects, make final library building payment

By Kaitlin Schroeder kschroeder@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

CANAAN -- Voters enacted a new wind ordinance and approved the town's final payment toward the new library Saturday at the annual Town Meeting.

The approximately 80 residents who gathered on Saturday morning at Canaan Elementary School also decided to cut $58,675 from the proposed budget, passing a budget of $1,093,832 which is up 1 percent from 2012.

Voters also agreed to appropriate $50,196 from the Urban-Rural Initiative Program to reduce taxes, $290,000 from vehicle excise taxes to fund highway expenses and $170,000 from surplus to reduce 2012 taxes.

Residents passed an ordinance that would regulate the residential use of wind energy.

The town had a wind ordinance, but it applies only to large operations. The new ordinance was passed as a precautionary measure to regulate windmills on personal property.

Voters also passed an article allocating $25,000 for the library building fund. Including that $25,000, the town has raised $150,000 for the project over the last six years.

The project is expected to cost around $440,000. The library fundraising committee is expected to raise the rest of the needed funds. The committee reported at the meeting that it already has raised around $102,000 through grants and donations.

The town agreed to give $15,744 to charities that serve the area. Several residents said they didn't want to fund charities that send a representative to the Town Meeting and moved to amend the donation to United Cerebral Palsy from $1,000 to $500. The amendment failed, and the charity was awarded the requested $1,000.

Elections are scheduled to be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Canaan Town Hall. There are no contested races.

Kaitlin Schroeder -- 861-9252
kschroeder@mainetoday.com

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