One of the proposals Alna voters will consider Saturday, March 23 at the open part of the annual town meeting has already drawn hours of debate. The talks over the proposed mining and blasting ordinance have included potential impacts, and whether or not the document is ready for a town vote. 

As selectmen worked on the town meeting warrant recently, Second Selectman Steve Graham said the proposed ordinance is a very complex document, has a lot of support and could go to a special town meeting instead of the annual one. He said holding off would allow a more detailed discussion. He would rather avoid litigation than having to to assess the likelihood of litigation, he said. 

Graham was outvoted 2-1 and the article made it onto the warrant. Third Selectman Coreysha Stone said the town last year supported drafting an ordinance, the planning board’s draft protects the town “a great deal,” and ordinances can be amended. And First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said the planning board has done “the most open, transparent process” in drafting the document, and there has been a lot of public comment.

Voters can listen to the arguments and make a rational decision, resident Merry Fossel said in support of putting the proposal on the warrant. Resident Jeff Spinney said if passed the ordinance would likely result in litigation from Crooker Construction over issues the company has raised. And the selectboard would have a second problem, of then being obligated to “go and chase down” everyone else for compliance, “and that’s going to cost you money ...,” as would losing, he added.

Besides the mining ordinance, voters also face a solar one, proposed building code changes to meet the state’s new housing law, and proposed procedural changes under the floodplain management ordinance. And Pentaleri said the proposed municipal budget is $1,155,096, or $75,631 more than proposed last year. He said the increase includes $24,000 proposed as the start of a reserve toward a revaluation eyed for 2026; and anticipated increases in the bills from Wiscasset to use the transfer station and ambulance service.

Voting in local elections is at the fire station Friday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pentaleri is unopposed on the ballot for selectboard, as is Shelby Biddy for Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit representative. Road Commissioner Jeffrey Verney faces his predecessor Michael Trask for that office.

At 10 a.m. Saturday at the fire station, town meeting resumes with the open portion. Free child care will be provided in the fire station's meeting room, a town email announced Monday.