PARIS — Voters from Norway at a special Town Meeting on Thursday unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on certain activities within 250 feet of the Crooked River .
Nearly 20 residents attended the meeting at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
The moratorium prevents any town official from acting on any application for land clearing, excavation, filling, timber harvesting, construction of new structures or expansion or relocation of existing structures within the 250-foot Shoreland Zone adjacent to the Crooked River.
The 180-day hold will allow the Planning Board to consider changes to the Norway Shoreland Ordinance to protect the river, a major spawning area for landlocked salmon in Sebago Lake.
The moratorium also extends the current setback of 100 feet to 250 feet to match the other towns along the Crooked River.
One resident called the Crooked River the second most important river for landlocked salmon in the state, behind the West Branch Penobscot River.
Voters also unanimously passed the other article on the warrant. The question asked residents to appropriate an additional $10,507 from the undesignated unrestricted fund balance to cover an unexpected last-minute increase in the annual insurance premiums.
Verne Maxfield, town manager of Woodstock, served as the moderator for the meeting.
Following it, the Select Board met and approved an outdoor festival license for the 2023 Foothills Food Festival scheduled for Aug. 19. Sponsored by Norway Brewing and radio station WOXO, it will feature beer, food and music. Charles Melhus, the owner of Norway Brewing, said he expects about 200 people to attend.
The board approved the language presented by interim Town Manager Bradley Plante for a new posting for the new town manager. The posting will be up for 30 days.
Resident Steve Siskowitz once again complained about the condition of Hobbs Pond, asking the board, “Is it safe to swim in Hobbs Pond?”
He wanted to see the reports of the tests conducted at the pond, which have been ongoing since last year. Siskowitz added that manure is still going into the pond.
“There is no algae but the water is dirty,” he said. “It is not clean. There are black specks in the water.”
Selectman Danielle Wadsworth agreed with him about the condition of the water.
Selectman Sarah Carter asked Siskowitz to be patient with town officials, who are attempting to identify the source of the contamination.
Plante said he would join him for a site walk so that he could see the problem firsthand.
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