When Westport Island residents hold their annual town meeting June 23, several new subjects will be on the warrant. In all, the warrant articles seek to raise and appropriate $606,082.79 and carry forward $94,337.05. These amounts exclude the town’s education assessment of $719,464.60 and the county tax of $272,473.04.

Among the new items are a revised shellfish ordinance (Article 3), updated after consulting with the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Voters will also be asked to decide if the Helping Hands non-profit food pantry should be moved to the basement of the Wright House where it will share electricity, phone, heating and insurance expenses. (Article 7).

The history committee is seeking approval to use funds from its money market account to start a nonprofit called “Friends of Westport Island History.” Article 17 explains the $940.85 in the account comes from private contributions, book sales and events, not town appropriations.

Another new topic is Article 18, a request to appropriate $5,000 for the comprehensive planning committee for a variety of costs to develop the plan.

Article 21 seeks approval for artist Bailey Bartlett to paint murals on the foundation of the town’s new sand and salt shed. There is no stated cost for the work and the article seeks approval only.

A few articles are returning with increases sought. In Article 36, the Westport Volunteer Fire Department is seeking $56,000 to be raised. In an interview with the Wiscasset Newspaper, Roger Higgins, the department’s chairman, said $40,000 is needed to run the department each year and more is needed to test and replace equipment, fuel the trucks, and meet state and federal fire safety requirements. The department also plans to offer a small stipend to  all volunteer members who meet the required training and certifications.

A 20 percent  increase over the previous year’s $100,000 is requested in Article 33 to maintain town roads and bridges.  The amount requested for the Wiscasset Ambulance Service in Article 44 is up $3,000 to $6,500.

Following up legal developments of the past year, Article 30 proposes withdrawing up to $38,550 from surplus to appeal a court decision in the Leslie Lilly-Baker Road case.

The town has elected Alna resident Chris Cooper moderator for the annual town meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Town Hall, 1217 Main Road.