Government and Island Tradition

Maine people, with their strong tradition of local government, make many decisions at annual town meetings. On islands at least, the town meeting season begins in March and extends into June. This month we report on the March crop of island town meetings.

The Legislature, meanwhile, is deep into its winter-spring deliberations, some of which will affect the management of the marine resources on which island and coastal communities -- and their working waterfronts -- depend. The very existence of working waterfronts is of concern to the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources this year. So this month we also profile the committee and some of the issues it faces.