A number of communities in central Maine considered local ballot questions Tuesday, including a land purchase in Clinton, Prohibition-era blue laws in Norridgewock and a mass-gathering ordinance in Vassalboro.
Here are how voters came down on those questions:
CLINTON
Voters approved the town’s purchase of land at 37 Baker St., which is to be used for a new fire and rescue building. The vote was 669-336, according to certified results Wednesday from Town Clerk Jessica Harriman.
Selectmen signed a sale agreement for the property in September, with the condition the purchases be approved by voters. Now that the election is over, the sale can be finalized. The town is set to use $120,000 from its undesignated surplus fund to buy the land.
Once the land purchase is finalized, the town’s public safety building committee can move forward on designs for the building.
NORRIDGEWOCK
Voters agreed to rescind a Prohibition-era law that prevented dine-in restaurants from serving alcohol. Two questions Tuesday asked whether the sale and consumption of liquor should be allowed Sundays and other days of the week.
Residents favored both, voting 662-301 in favor of allowing the sale and consumption Sundays, and 730-225 in support of other days of the week.
The results mean the laws will be eliminated and dine-in restaurants will be able to serve alcohol every day of the week, without violating town rules, although they will still have to go through the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations.
Norridgewock voted decades ago to keep blue laws, meaning the retail sale of wine and liquor was allowed, but customers could not consume it where it was purchased.
“We certified election results (Wednesday) morning and submitted paperwork to the secretary of state’s office,” Town Manager Richard LaBelle said. “They are responsible for reviewing the integrity of that paperwork and sending it off to (Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations) so they can begin the process of reviewing applications if there are any.”
VASSALBORO
Residents voted against a proposed mass-gathering ordinance, with 698 opposed to the measure and 615 in favor.
The proposed ordinance would have created an application process through the Board of Selectmen for gatherings of 500 people or more, with exceptions for permanent locations that routinely host large gatherings, such as athletic fields and fairgrounds.
Morning Sentinel Staff Writer Taylor Abbott contributed to this report.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
