Outdoor Festival Ordinance

Town of Lamoine, Maine

Enacted: March 13, 1971

(Entered from copy on file)

Whereas, the inhabitants of the Town of Lamoine are deeply concerned about the tremendous crowds which have attended outdoor pageants, amusement shows, theatrical performances, including music festivals and exhibitions, in various parts of the United States and the results thereof, and

Whereas, said events have led to serious problems in the way of inadequate toilet, waste disposal, potable water, and first aid facilities, obstructions and damages to roads and highways, violations of liquor and drug laws, and destruction of both public and private property.

Now, therefore, the following ordinance is passed in the interest of promoting the general welfare, preventing disease, promoting health and providing for the public safety.

1. No person shall exhibit, sponsor, hold, promote or operate any pageant, amusement show, theatrical performance, including a music festival or exhibition, which in excess of 500 people are reasonable anticipated to attend and where a substantial portion of the entertainers or person attending will be out of doors without first procuring from the municipal officers a licence therefor at least 7 days prior to the event and payment of the sum of $100 to the town therefor.

2. No license shall be granted by the municipal officers unless the applicant satisfies the municipal officers that the following facilities will be available for such event in the area to be used and no such person shall hold such an event unless such facilities are available:

A. Water supplies of potable quality shall be reasonable spaced throughout the area to be used with a minimum amount available of 1½ gallons per day per person. Such water may be batch chlorinated in a tank to provide a chlorine residual of at least .5 parts per million. At each facility there shall be adequate spigots with cups, or dispensers.

B. Separate male and female facilities shall be available to a public sewer system or septic tank, or trenches or pits may be used under the following specifications. Trenches shall be one foot wide and two feet deep with at least fifteen feet of trench for each reasonable anticipated 100 persons. After use trenches shall be filled with earth to a point well above ground level. If pit latrines are used, pits shall be two feet wide with a depth of at least 5 feet with in no case the pit to extend into ground water or ledge and with such pits to be in soil having porosity such that liquids shall drain from the pit. At least one toilet seat shall be provided for water toilets or pit latrines for each 40 persons reasonable expected to attend.

Urinal pits may be made available for men to replace one-third of the pit latrines with discharge to a soakage pit, such pits to be at least 4 feet square by 4 feet deep filled with one to four inch stones and with the pit ventilated by screened ventilators extending to within 1 foot of the bottom. If such urinal pits are used, there shall be at least 1 for each reasonable anticipated 100 males. All toilet facilities shall be adequately screened for privacy with canvas or wood.

C. At each toilet facility, there shall be handwashing facilities, which may utilize stored water with outlets equipped with spring operated spigots, with adequate provision for disposal of waste water to soakage pits and with soap dispensers available.

D. Adequate metal, wood, or plastic containers with a height of at least 2 feet and a diameter of at least 2 feet shall be spaced in the area to take care of solid waste and garbage, with at least one container for each reasonable anticipated 100 persons. Within 24 hours after the close of the event such waste material shall be removed to a public dump or buried.

E. A first aid facility shall be provided on the grounds with at least one ambulance in attendance and one doctor for each 1,000 persons or less.

F. Off the street parking facilities shall be furnished with at least one car space with adequate access ways for each six persons reasonable expected to attend. A uniformed police officer or constable shall be provided to direct traffic to and from public ways with at least one officer for each reasonable expected 250 persons.

G. Prior to the issuance of the license and the holding of the event, the applicant shall furnish a corporate surety bond from a company authorized to do business in Maine insuring that forthwith after the event the grounds will be cleaned of waste, and damages to public or private property in the area arising out of or in connection with the event are promptly paid, such bond to be in the amount of $5,000 for each reasonable expected 1,000 persons or less in attendance.

H. The applicant shall file with his application adequate proof that he has authority from any landowner to use his property and shall furnish a plan showing the size of the area to be used, with designated locations for drinking, toilet and washing facilities, waste containers, first aid facilities, and off the street parking.

3. Each part of this ordinance is severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is declared to be contrary to law, the validity of the remainder shall not be affected hereby.

4. Any person, directly or indirectly, exhibiting, promoting, sponsoring, operating or holding such event as owner, lessor, lessee, landlord, tenant, operator or entertainers and not complying with this ordinance shall be liable to a fine of $100 per day for each infraction, shall be personally responsible for damages to public or private property arising out of or in connection therewith and subject to any civil or injunctive relief that may be reasonable and proper.

5. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage.

(Passed by a town meeting vote March 13, 1971 as written in the Town Clerk’s minutes of said meeting. Entered from the ordinance on December 4, 1998)