Summary of Proposed Ordinance Corrections Provision

ORDINANCE CORRECTION PROVISION ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE

Summary The proposed Ordinance change will delegate authority to the Select Board to make minor corrections to the text of the Land Use Ordinance. This authority will be limited to non- substantive changes like correcting typographical errors or outdated cross-references to other sections within the Ordinance or to State statutes or other outside agency publications. The amendments contain specific language prohibiting changes that alter the intent, meaning, or substantive provisions of any regulation enacted by voters at Town Meeting. The Planning Board will also review and comment on any proposed corrections.

Current vs. Proposed Correction of Ordinance Text Errors
           Aspect                       Current                       Proposed
 Correction of errors in the   Must be approved by          Authority delegated to the
 Land Use Ordinance text.      voters at Town Meeting.      Select Board.

Why the Change?

The Town Meeting is the official legislative body of the Town and has authority to make changes to the Land Use Ordinance. The voters only meet once annually, and the Town Meeting must cover all budget and ordinance issues in a few hours of meeting time. Due to the length and complexity of the Land Use Ordinance and difficulty of the Town Meeting process, errors in the text have gone unaddressed for years and erode the effectiveness of the Town’s land use regulations. Authorizing the Select Board to make minor changes to correct errors when they are discovered will improve the quality of services for Durham residents.

We want to hear from you! Do you support this change? Do you think the Select Board should have authority to make minor Ordinance corrections if safeguards are included? Please share your thoughts with the Planning Board during the public participation process. You can submit written comments to the Town Planner for circulation to the Board by emailing townplanner@durhammaine.gov.