WILTON — When voters head for the polls June 4, they’ll choose selectmen and School Board directors. They’ll also decide whether the town should adopt four new ordinances.

The Wilton Group offered a chance for residents to learn more about the ordinances last week and will offer residents a chance to meet the candidates and hear their positions Wednesday night.

A meet and greet with candidates starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Comfort Inn. During the presentation, starting at 7 p.m., each candidate will be asked the same five questions. Time will be allotted for residents to ask questions.

Selectman D. Scott Taylor is running unopposed for his seat on the board, while candidates Tiffany Maiuri and Ray Lagasse are running for the seat of Selectman Russell Black, who is not seeking re-election.

RSU 9 Director Robert Pullo also is not seeking re-election. Candidates James Black and Margaret Donahue seek that position.

These are informational sessions to help make voters more aware of what they’re voting on, a Wilton Group member said last week.

Last week, James Black, representing the Ordinance Committee, provided a brief description of each proposed ordinance with the help of fire Chief Sonny Dunham, police officer Billie Martin and other committee members.

The change to single-sort recycling has brought the town’s budget proposal for solid waste management down to $263,000 from the $295,000 appropriated last year.

“More recycling makes it cheaper for everyone, lowers our taxes,” Terry Brann said.

The ordinance continues the Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee, encourages recycling and establishes fees for disposal of items not recyclable, according to the ordinance.

Although police have received few complaints about fireworks, the consumer fireworks ordinance spells out times, places and conditions in which fireworks can be set off.

A permit from the Fire Department is required and will not be issued on high fire danger days. 

Except for the Fourth of July and New Year’s, fireworks cannot be set off after 10 p.m. and not in the downtown village or residential zones of the town.

Permits can be obtained free online, Dunham told the gathering. Residents cannot get a permit to burn and use it for fireworks, he added.

Because 75 percent of police complaints come from half-a-dozen residences, the committee developed the proposed disorderly property ordinance, Black said.

A lot of the town’s money is being invested in a few people, he added.

Under the proposed ordinance, a property, be it a house, tent site, gravel pit or field, where police are called to four times within a month is flagged as a disorderly property, he said. The owner is notified and given a chance to take action. Fines are charged for more than four visits.

During her two years with the Police Department, Martin confirmed the need for police to often visit the same place, much of it related to problems with drugs and alcohol, she said.

A proposed building and property maintenance ordinance provides a minimum standard for the exterior condition of buildings within the downtown village, commercial and residential 1 zones of town.

It was developed with safety and health in mind, Black said, and it also helps the town deal with issues of needed repair or cleaning.

The ordinances are available at the town office or online on the town’s website at www.wiltonmaine.org, where residents can click on “Town Government” and scroll down to “Proposed Ordinances.”

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