CAMBRIDGE — Voters approved multiple moratorium proposals Saturday at Cambridge’s annual Town Meeting.

Fewer than 50 voters crowded into the meeting room at the Town Office building for the meeting, held in two sessions because the group broke for lunch at noon.

While the morning was dedicated to the re-election of incumbent selectmen, the town clerk and a school board representative, and a number of routine articles, the afternoon brought a variety of new discussions.

After a move to table action on a proposed cemetery ordinance in the morning, an appeals board ordinance was tabled in the afternoon. In both cases, voters wanted more details on the proposals and a required public hearing before the changes come before voters. In each case, the proposals were intended to clarify rules and situations that hadn’t come up previously.

The moratorium proposals prompted a long discussion, but ultimately all were approved, with the understanding they were intended only to make the town prepared for new development. Moratoriums were set on the creation of adult entertainment establishments, personal wireless service facilities, medical marijuana dispensaries or cultivation and wind-energy facilities.

The moratorium proposals prompted a long discussion, but ultimately all were approved, with the understanding they were intended only to make the town prepared for new development. Moratoriums were set on the creation of adult entertainment establishments, personal wireless service facilities, medical marijuana dispensaries or cultivation and wind-energy facilities.

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One resident drew laughter by asking why the town would want to limit wireless service when nobody can receive a wireless signal in Cambridge.

All other articles were approved, including a few additions to the warrant. Town Clerk Carol Laplant was granted a $250 raise in her annual town clerk’s salary, for a total of $1,300, when she announced plans to add four hours to her workweek. She will remain on duty Wednesday afternoons, making her workweek 18 hours. She also is the town’s administrative assistant, earning an additional salary for that.

“It may only be $250, but it made me feel like royalty,” Laplant said of the action.

“I am truly blessed,” she added, acknowledging an addition to the administration account – $3,000 from taxation and $3,000 from surplus – to allow the planned purchase of TRIO software for the town’s bookkeeping functions. The item had been omitted from the warrant.

Moderator Arthur Jette said raffle tickets are on sale for a quilt in another fundraiser to add to the software account. The noon luncheon also benefited the software fund.

Laplant said the property tax rate is expected to increase $1, from $17.70 to $18.70 per $1,000 of valuation, to reflect the municipal budget of $154,458.

Brenda Seekins in a Morning Sentinel correspondent who lives in Hartland.

 


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