With just over two weeks away from a vote, there were two new developments this week that will affect the proposed construction of a $1.5 billion coal gasification plant in Wiscasset.

First, a settlement agreement was announced that will require the federal government to protect spawning Atlantic salmon in eight rivers, including the Sheepscot.

And, on Tuesday night, Wiscasset Selectmen decided to make the 400 acres of land where the plant may be built subject to "contract zoning." Under the town's recently approved comprehensive plan, contract zoning is allowed in rural, commercial and the shoreland business zones. This means the town can require "performance standards" on such things as noise, vibration, odor, exterior lighting, and buffer zones.

National RE/sources of Greenwich, Conn. has proposed the gasification plant on about 400 acres of land the company bought from Maine Yankee, an atomic power plant that closed in 1997. The land borders the Back River, which the company initially said would be used to bring barges of coal to the plant. The company subsequently said it would more likely be the Sheepscot River, which is more navigable. The project was announced to selectmen in July.

The settlement with the federal government on protecting habitat in Maine rivers resulted from a lawsuit filed by the Conservation Law Foundation and the Center for Biological Diversity in Vermont. The Gulf of Maine is the only place left in the country where wild salmon still spawn. The fish were listed as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act in 2000. The agreement goes into effect next year.

The idea of using the town's provisions for contract zoning was presented to selectmen Tuesday night by Peter Arnold of the Chewonki Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit educational and environmental organization which owns land near the proposed plant site. The foundation has planned an all day seminar next Wednesday, October 24, on the topic of gasification and the impact of the release of carbon dioxide in the area.

Town manager Arthur Faucher presented a resignation letter from the Board of Selectmen from Alex Robertson, who has been hospitalized several times with heart problems. Selectman David Nichols made a motion to accept the resignation "with very deep regret."

"He will be missed very much," said chairman Duane Goud. "He has spent a lot of time in the town office."

"Alex has been in and out of the hospital, and each time it gets more serious," Faucher said. "If you have any comfort in your hearts, please say a small prayer for him."

To fill his position, nomination papers will be available November 1, to be returned by 1 p.m. on November 30. Absentee ballots will be ready by December 17, and the election will be held January 15.

Selectmen agreed to accept Faucher's recommendation to apply for a $150,000 SHIP (Small Harbor Improvement Program) grant to pay for repairs at the town dock. The state inspected the dock October 5, Faucher said. A matching amount of $37,500 must be provided by the town if the grant is received.

Faucher thanked a number of people who helped in preparing for the grant application, including Joe Picirillo, Bob Blagden, Stuart Wyman, Jeff Hinderliter, David Nichols, David Sutter, Bill Curtis, Maria McGuiggan. Rex Collamore and Amy Winston.

Faucher announced he was worked out an arrangement with people at the Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset to strip, prime, and paint 24 sets of shutters from the old Wiscasset Academy building, now called the Wiscasset Art Gallery. The shutters will be removed and taken to the jail where inmates will restore them to their former selves. The town will pay a rate of $9 per hour for the work, regardless of how many inmates are working on them at a time.

Goud suggested Faucher look into finding grants for historic buildings, since more work is needed on the building. Faucher said there may be some money available from the Maine State Housing Authority.

Polling hours for the November 6 elections and voting will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wiscasset Community Center. The vote relating to the gasification plant involves changing several ordinances to raise the height limit from 60 feet to 235 feet.

Selectman Bill Curtis suggested changing the date tax payments are due - October 26 - since most residents just received them in the mail on Monday. However, Goud said this date was set by voters last June and cannot be changed.

In other business, the selectmen gave a thumbs up to Beano games at the Huntoon Hill Grange; named a road off Lowelltown Road Beach Rose Lane at the request of residents there; set October 23 at 6 p.m. to hold poverty abatement hearings (closed to the public) followed by an assessing workshop (open to the public).