Town attorney Jennifer Villeneuve told Damariscotta selectmen Tuesday night, a petition seeking a moratorium on development in the C-2 district needs some reworking to be made valid. Villeneuve cited a technical error in the way the petition was filled out.

Villeneuve said, because many signers did not include the town name, the petition was invalid. She recommended that the 10 people who circulated it add the town name at the top of each petition page and add quote marks in each space where the town name is required, and then have the town clerk recertify the petition. She said she had started to look at the body of the petition to see if the petition was legally valid, but stopped when she realized the signature section needed to be recertified.

The petition’s goal is to temporarily halt development approvals in the C-2 district, which runs from the Baptist Church on Main Street to the end of Business Route 1 where it rejoins State Route 1 near N.C. Hunt. The petition was circulated by members of Our Town Damariscotta, under the direction of attorney Peter Drum after two developments on Route 1B moved toward approval, based on current codes. The town is currently reviewing land use codes with an eye toward moving toward form-based codes, but that process is only just beginning, and the Our Town group wanted to stop new development until the new system is determined.

Villeneuve did not anticipate it would be difficult to rework the petition. After a recertified petition is handed off to her, she will begin examining it to see if it meets legal requirements, she said.

Damariscotta and Newcastle will be working together to develop a plan for business development at an all-day forum Friday, Sept. 22 at Darrows Barn at Round Top Farm, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a luncheon provided by local restaurants.

The selectmen also approved the wording on a citizen survey on potential marijuana businesses in town. The survey will be available online and on paper.

The fire department purchased car accident extrication equipment, partially paid for by a grant. The department tried out several types of equipment over the last few months and selected the best possible equipment that would last the longest on a single battery charge, Chief John Roberts said. Roberts also obtained Damariscotta’s permission to join with Newcastle in a holiday display from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

Several other requests were approved, including funding for the town’s match for the extrication equipment, funding for the waterfront improvement project, funding for the Egypt Road culvert replacement project and additional funds for legal services not budgeted for.

The town also accepted a grant for engineering of the Biscay Pond boat ramp, and for part of the waterfront improvement project. Another $5,000 was donated toward the project from the Damariscotta Bank and Trust.