Residents vote on an article Saturday during Sidney’s annual Town Meeting at the James H. Bean School. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

SIDNEY — Residents approved the town’s $2 million budget, but rejected two proposed ordinances to regulate solar farms and improperly stored trash.

More than 100 residents gathered at the James H. Bean School on Saturday morning to participate in the annual Town Meeting.

The town also held an election Friday for municipal officers, where John Whitcomb was reelected to a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen, according to Town Clerk Lezley Jones. Hope Boyce was elected to a two-year term on the board with 89 votes, defeating incumbent Ronda Snyder, who had 35 votes.

John DeWitt was reelected to the Regional School Unit 18 board of directors, defeating Chris Hanson in a 45-16 vote.

Several budget items were amended before passage. Article 19, the funding for the summer highway program, was decreased from $533,740 to $483,740.

When it came time to discuss Article 30, funding for the 7 Lakes Alliance, Youth Conservation Corps, there was an attempt to amend the item to increase funding to $3,000. However, the vote on the amendment was a tie, so the amendment failed. The article passed as originally written, with $1,700 for the program.

Ken Alvarez, left, is assisted by registrar Patty Bragg during the check in process Saturday for Sidney’s annual Town Meeting at the James H. Bean School. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

There was extensive discussion Saturday about the three proposed ordinances to regulate solar farms, trash and camper occupancy.

The solar ordinance was ultimately rejected, but the proposed text defined several sizes of solar projects, and included regulations of a maximum height of 25 feet, a minimum setback of 100 feet and a buffer of plants between it and nearby roads and residences.

Residents expressed frustration that they could not amend the ordinance at Town Meeting, and that they were not aware of the ordinance or the earlier public hearings held by the Planning Board. One resident said that the town’s electrical system can not handle another solar farm now anyways, so there is no reason to rush to pass the ordinance now.

Also rejected was a solid waste storage ordinance, which would have required homeowners to keep all trash in cans or dumpsters. Several residents spoke and said the ordinance was a “slippery slope” and that property owners should be able to do as they wish on their own land.

Lisa Klein, left, Sidney’s deputy treasurer, tax collector and clerk, counts voting cards Saturday while tallying results for the Article 30 vote during the annual Town Meeting at the James H. Bean School. At right is moderator James Isgro. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

There was extensive discussion about a camper occupancy ordinance, which was ultimately approved.

The ordinance defines a recreational vehicle to include things like travel trailers, pickup campers and motor homes, and states they cannot be occupied for more than 120 days in a calendar year. If there are extenuating circumstances that require the need to stay in such a vehicle for longer, a written proposal can be submitted to the code enforcement officer for approval, with input of the Board of Selectmen.

Cindy Buschmann, center, drops her ballot into the box Saturday while she and other Sidney residents vote on an article during the annual Town Meeting at the James H. Bean School. Holding the ballot box is Lisa Klein, the town’s deputy treasurer, tax collector and clerk. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Some residents said that property owners should be able to do as they wish on their land, and questioned if there was a big enough issue to warrant the ordinance.

But Fire Chief Richard Jandreau said it is a significant problem in town. He said some of these vehicles are lived in full-time by families with children, and don’t have water or sewer, and will have extension cords running several hundred feet into buildings for power. The vehicles don’t have sufficient heating, and some people will put wood stoves inside to heat the space, which is a serious fire hazard.

He said there has already been one such camper that caught fire in town while the resident was not there, and the fire killed the dog that was in the vehicle.

“It is dangerous as hell,” Jandreau said.