Sangerville voters to consider two versions of RBO

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    SANGERVILLE — Voters at tonight’s (Sept. 18) special town meeting in Sangerville will have two versions of the rights-based ordinance (RBO) to choose from, according to Town Manager Dave Pearson.
    After the Sept. 4 public hearing on the proposed ordinance, the Board of Selectmen took the advice of attorney Lynne Williams and clarified the definition of a private transportation or distribution corridor in an amended warrant.

    Basically, the new version specifies that the ordinance, which targets the proposed east-west highway, would not prohibit the “development of driveways or access roads to local property within the town of Sangerville or existing utility or telecommunications agreements as long as the development and agreements do not violate the rights secured by this ordinance.”
    During the public hearing, some residents wondered if a blanket prohibition of a “public-private” transportation corridor would apply to all private roads and if a “utility corridor” might be interpreted as banning new telephone or Internet lines.
    So the Board of Selectmen met on Sept. 10 and amended the warrant.
    However, since the first version was generated by a citizen petition, the town has to present the document in its original form, Pearson explained. “The selectmen acted within the required time frame to amend the ordinance, but it’s still up to the voters whether to accept it,” he said.
    The special town meeting gets underway at the Sangerville fire station at 6:30 p.m.