Yarmouth town councilors will discuss at their next workshop whether to pursue an ordinance to create a buffer zone that prohibits sex offenders from moving within 750 feet of schools or other facilities primarily used by children, said Town Manager Nat Tupper.

The measure, which is nearly identical to provisions in place elsewhere, is allowed under state law and can be adopted at a municipality’s discretion.

Currently, only two registered sex offenders live in town, according to the state’s sex offender registry. One of them lives on Glen Road, within the 750-foot perimeter around Yarmouth Elementary School. The other offender’s address is not listed, giving only Yarmouth as his place of residence.

In other communities, ordinances have grandfathered offenders already living within the zone.

The workshop discussion is scheduled for Feb. 4. If councilors send the measure to committee, it could take months before a final version is returned for an up-or-down vote, Tupper said.

Tupper said the issue was brought up to a town councilor by a resident, following a routine notification sent by the Yarmouth school district superintendent to parents that a sex offender was living in town.

South Portland, Old Orchard Beach and Biddeford are among the southern Maine communities that have adopted similar ordinances.

Matt Byrne can be contacted at 791-6303 or at:

mbyrne@pressherald.com

Twitter: MattByrnePPH