About the Planning Board

The Planning Board is made up of seven members. Members are residents of the Town who are elected by a vote of the entire Town to staggered three year terms. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected annually, by sitting members of the Board, at the first regularly scheduled meeting following the Town's annual meeting.

The Board has regularly scheduled meetings commencing at 6:00 pm on the first Monday of every month, except on public holidays when they commence on the second Monday. Meeting agendas are posted at the Municipal Building and online prior to the meeting. The new business items, only, shall be advertised in two newspapers of general circulation. The first advertisement shall be at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. In order to be placed on the monthly agenda, all applications and associated submissions require filing in the Town Office at least three (3) weeks before the next scheduled meeting.

Monthly Planning Board meetings are open to the public. During hearings the speaker must clearly state their name and street address for the record. Once the speaker has introduced themselves, then all comments addressed to the Board shall be made through the Chair. The Planning Board promotes strict adherence to the Maine right to know statutes thus reserving discussion of all matters that come before it to scheduled meetings.

The Planning Board sits as a quasi-judicial body that reviews applications for all land use ordinances. However, the Board does not have the authority to provide an applicant with a variance to an ordinance. Variances are the province of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Enforcement of Town ordinances does not rest with the Planning Board but with the Code Enforcement Officer, though the Planning Board may be called on to work with the CEO and the Council when they determine that a situation warrants such involvement.