LINCOLNVILLE —The Board of Selectmen in Lincolnville agreed placing before voters a proposed ordinance to place a moratorium on the construction of piers, wharfs and docks on the ocean shoreline.

Per a consult with the town’s attorney, who held no objections to the language.

“As we receive so few petitions and the statute regarding petitions sets forth required procedures, a copy of the petition was sent to the town attorney,” said Selectman Keryn Laite, Jr., at the April 25 regularly scheduled Selectmen’s meeting. “To paraphrase her response, ‘it’s OK for the board to move forward with the request for voter consideration of the proposed moratorium ordinance.”

The timeline includes setting the question to be set for a Lincolnville Planning Board public hearing May 18, with an article to appear before voters May 25, the same town meeting as the Lincolnville Central School budget meeting.

The moratorium ordinance request asks that the town to approve a new ordinance that would retroactively prohibit, “the construction of any new or currently proposed piers, docks, floats, ramps, and other permanent structures along the coast in Lincolnville, for which construction has not yet commenced as of March 31, 2022.”

The group that collected 191 signatures was represented at the April 25 meeting. There are an estimated 2,200 registered voters in Lincolnville.

“I’m really proud and happy that we have that level of concern of how the town is evolving and developing,” said John Pincince, who has been opposed to a specific pier proposed by private landowners in Lincolnville.

The selectmen agreed that it was their job to, “move it forward and put it in the public realm,” said Selectman Jordan Barnett-Parker.

A petition to place a proposed moratorium ordinance before voters that would affect new pier, wharf and dock construction on the oceanfront stretch of Lincolnville will be discussed by the Lincolnville Selectmen this evening, when they convene at 6 p.m. at the Lincolnville Town Office.