Vassalboro voters reject both local questions

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro voters rejected both local referendum questions at the polls Nov. 8. (ep)

The revised Shoreland Zoning Ordinance on which planning board members worked for a year was defeated by a vote of 981 yes to 1,186 no, leaving the current ordinance in place.

A request for an appropriation from surplus of not more than $58,600 as the town’s contribution toward installing sidewalks in East Vassalboro lost with 969 votes in favor and 1,360 against. Had voters approved the project, it would have been incorporated into the state’s planned rebuilding of Route 32 through Vassalboro, scheduled for 2017 or 2018.

In the other local ballot question, Frank Richards was elected to represent Vassalboro on the Kennebec Water District Board of Trustees with 2,135 votes.

Town Clerk Cathy Coyne, reporting results shortly after 2 a.m. Nov. 9, said 2,480 ballots were cast, what she called a record turnout. Vassalboro has 3,165 registered voters.