Nothing about timber harvesting in the Woolwich shoreland zoning ordinance will need to be changed at the annual town meeting in May, except one word. The change of that one word will not alter the town's position with regard to the ordinance, but state law dictates the change has to go before a town vote, anyway.

Without the change, the town of Woolwich will need to develop a memorandum of understanding with the Maine Forest Service to assist in enforcement of timber harvesting within shoreland zones.

According to Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert, the town was given the opportunity to turn enforcement of timber harvesting over to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry a few years ago. 

Planning Board members recalled that the town wanted to be the least restrictive as possible, so in 2009 opted for the minimum standards set by the state. 

The intent of the decision was to have the Forest Service take full responsibility for enforcing the regulations, but Engert said a typographical error confused the town's message to the state.

The section to be changed reads, “Timber Harvesting – This section applies to Woolwich, Maine after Statewide Standards are in place,” and would involve replacing the word “after” with the word “until.”

It is expected Woolwich Planning Board members will change the word in the ordinance, selectmen will approve the change and the revised section of the shoreland zoning ordinance will be put to a vote of the town in May.