Albion residents approve solar ordinance, Delta Ambulance fee

ALBION — Residents approved all but one item on the warrant Saturday at the annual Town Meeting, including new regulations for solar projects and consenting to an annual fee imposed by Delta Ambulance.

Voters gathered at Albion Elementary School and approved a $1.6 million municipal budget, an increase of about $124,000 from last year.

The only warrant article that was rejected would have taken $2,500 from the general fund for a recreation fund, according to Town Clerk Jeanie Doore.

In municipal elections held Friday, Paul Flynn was elected as selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor, and Katrina Dumont was reelected to the Maine School Administrative District 49 board of directors. Both ran unopposed.

Expenditures approved at the Town Meeting included a new $30,090 fee for services provided by Delta Ambulance. Albion is one of several towns in the area that utilizes Delta for 911 emergency response, and the nonprofit organization has instituted annual fees for communities after citing increasing costs and low insurance reimbursements.

The fee is calculated based on a town’s population, with the Delta charging $15 per resident. Delta has offered one-year contracts to the 14 towns affected by the fee, in the hope the Maine Legislature could pass bills to boost the ambulance industry and reduce the assistance needed from towns.

Voters also agreed to implement a solar ordinance. The regulations include restrictions, including a maximum height of 15 feet, requiring a fence around solar projects and that companies minimize the impact on surrounding land. The ordinance also orders that solar projects be at least 300 feet from roads or residential buildings.

Residents elected several Planning Board and budget committee members from the floor at the meeting. Kevin Morrissey was elected to a five-year term on the Planning Board, Jason Dow was named to a one-year term as an alternate Planning Board member, Matthew Dow Sr. and Joseph Doore were elected to three-year terms on the budget committee and Steve Clark was elected to a two-year term on the committee.

There are still vacancies on the Planning Board and budget committee, and the Board of Selectmen is expected to make appointments to fill the seats.