CHEBEAGUE ISLAND — A referendum question on construction of a parking lot near the Stone Wharf will be presented to voters June 9, along with uncontested elections for the Board of Selectmen and School Committee.
The parking lot question is non-binding, and will be used to guide the Board of Selectmen on whether to continue discussing the proposal. The Great Chebeague Golf Club has offered to donate land across from its sixth green so the town could build 40 parking spaces to serve the wharf.
The town has been discussing the idea since last year, but haven’t determined a parking lot design or the cost to make the lot. The proposal has required negotiations between the golf club and the Holmbom family, who live adjacent to the proposed lot.
The results of the referendum will determine whether island residents are even interested in the new parking lot, or if it shouldn’t be discussed any further.
Elections
Newcomers Pete Pellerin and Jeffrey Putnam are seeking two of the four seats on the Board of Selectmen and School Committee, respectively.
Pellerin is running for the Board of Selectmen seat being vacated by Donna Damon, who in March said she is “ready to take some time off.” Putnam is running for the School Committee seat currently held by Ken Pelton, who is not seeking re-election.
Pellerin, the owner of Maine Island Energy, has lived on the island for seven years and served on the Chebeague Recreation Center board. He currently is on the Chebeague United Methodist Church board.
“My interest is to help the new town of Chebeague,” Pellerin said. “I want to see a thriving community continue here.”
Pellerin said he’s most looking forward to working on the town budget.
Incumbent David Hill is seeking re-election to the Board of Selectmen, a seat he’s held for six years. In March, he said he wasn’t sure if he was going to run, but has since decided to seek another term.
Neither Putnam nor incumbent Jennifer Belesca could be reached for comment regarding their decisions to run for seats on the School Committee. Belesca, who is seeking a fourth term, in March said she wanted to continue to be an “advocate for island students” and believes continuity on the board is important.
All four positions are four three-year terms that expire in June 2018. Voting will be held June 9 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Island Hall.
Kate Gardner can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or kgardner@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter: @katevgardner.
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