OAKLAND — Two questions that will allow liquor sales in town will be on Tuesday’s ballot.

The first question asks voters if they want the town to authorize the state to allow agency liquor stores to operate in Oakland. Since the first question excludes Sunday, the second question asks to allow Sunday liquor sales.

Gary and Carol McKinnon, who run Mac’s Citgo on Main Street, turned in a petition in September requesting the move, said Town Clerk Jan Porter. The petition to have the questions placed on the ballot had 438 verified Oakland voters, 21 more than the required 417 (which represents 15 percent of the town’s voters in Maine’s last gubernatorial election).

Jeffrey Austin, state supervisor of liquor licensing and inspection, said if one or both articles pass, based on Oakland’s population of 6,240, there could be as many as four agency liquor stores in town.

If voters agree to allow liquor sales, Austin said the state will accept applications.

“It’s a competitive process, it’s not like (selling) beer or wine,” he said. Agency liquor stores are the only stores in the state allowed to sell alcohol stronger than wine and beer.

Austin said Oakland store owners who want to operate an agency liquor store would have to send a letter of interest to the liquor licensing and compliance division of the Department of Public Safety.

In order for stores to be considered, Austin said they must have been in business and selling beer and wine for one year and they cannot have had any liquor violations in the year before applying.

After store owners file an application, Austin said his agency reviews it and inspects the store, then holds public hearings. The process can take months, he said.

There are five active agency liquor stores in Waterville, according to the maine.gov website, as well as five in Augusta, one in Belgrade Lakes, one in Belgrade and one in Sidney.

Sidney also has a ballot question Tuesday that proposes to allow the sale of liquor on Sunday.

Beth Staples — 861-9252

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