Orono committee delays sewer ordinance review, discusses Kratom feedback

The Town of Orono Ordinance Review Committee postponed its review of Chapter 33 sewer ordinances to allow staff time for a thorough legal review of significant fee structure changes. The committee also began discussing Chapter 22 library ordinances in preparation for an upcoming library project and heard public comment from a resident advocating for kratom users.

Key points

• Staff requested a one-month delay on the sewer ordinance review to conduct a full legal analysis of new fee-for-service models and metering requirements for large users.
• Councilors discussed the need to clarify the town's legal authority to implement negotiated service agreements with major partners like the University of Maine and large apartment complexes.
• The committee agreed to begin reviewing Chapter 22 library ordinances, noting that the library board has already started identifying areas for potential updates.
• A public commenter, a chronic pain patient and kratom advocate, urged the committee to distinguish between natural kratom and synthetic products that have caused recent health concerns.
• The committee discussed strategies for improving public engagement, including sending quarterly alerts about upcoming ordinance reviews to help residents understand when they can provide input.

Next steps

• Staff will conduct a legal review of the proposed sewer ordinance changes, with an update expected by December or January.
• Staff will meet with library leadership to review Chapter 22 and provide a marked-up draft for committee discussion.
• The committee will explore ways to better publicize upcoming ordinance reviews to encourage timely public input.

Read the full transcript The agenda