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SOLON

Adult entertainment ordinance OK'd

BY DARLA L. PICKETT, Correspondent

SOLON -- Voters adopted an adult entertainment ordinance, re-elected their road commissioner and passed a 2010-2011 budget that is about $13,000 more than last year during town meeting action here Saturday afternoon.

The adult entertainment ordinance drew probably the most challenging comments of the day, with some voters arguing there was no reason for the regulations and others calling it "insurance for the future."

James MacLean, owner of the Solon Hotel, called the ordinance proposed by a citizen "a knee-jerk reaction to a non-existent problem."

MacLean said not only is there no threat to Solon, but an ordinance is just one more law tearing at the constitutional rights of businessmen. "What's next?" he asked, wondering aloud if it would be signs and other similar improvements.

Resident Richard Kromer said the ordinance, modeled after one in Vassalboro, was "just like buying insurance."

Michael Golden agreed: "If you don't have (an ordinance) on the books, you can't do anything about it if a problem arises." He said Vassalboro would have "saved a huge amount of money" if they had had an ordinance in place.

An attempt by Marilyn Rogers to cut about $8,000 worth of increases in town road care failed. She proposed keeping the amounts the same as last year, $78,000 for winter roads and $72,000 for summer roads.

However, after Elaine Aloes, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, explained changes in scheduled work, voters approved the increases to $81,000 and $77,000 respectively.

In other debate, former selectman Daniel Keegan asked to cut increases for selectman, saying he was "disappointed" they would ask for a raise "when 39 percent of the citizens in Solon are on Social Security and none got a raise last year, this year, nor are they likely to get one next year -- I don't feel it's fair."

Voters disagreed and approved the $2,500 worth of raises.

Moderator Philip Roy, calling in the election "a squeaker," announced that 14-year incumbent Road Commissioner Ronald Giguere defeated his opponent Trent A. Cates, 126-81 in the only contest of the day.