KENNEBUNK — The Energy Efficiency Committee is contemplating a number of initiatives it feels will benefit the town of Kennebunk, one of which would involve placing a non-binding question before voters in November.

While the language for the potential ballot item has yet to be determined, committee chairman Dennis Andersen said the question will gauge residents’ interest in charging a small fee for plastic shopping bags at supermarkets and other food outlets.

“This fee would be very similar to what they have in Portland,” said Andersen. “It would be 5 cents, and the money would go back to the merchants.”

If ultimately enacted, the point of the fee, said Andersen, would be to reduce the amount of trash that pollutes waterways and other areas of the environment. Any measure that would be placed on the November ballot wouldn’t be a final vote on the matter, he said, but rather akin to a poll, feeling out public sentiment on the issue.

Voters in Portland passed a similar measure earlier this month, charging consumers a nickel for every disposable shopping bag they get. In that city, the rule applies to any business for which food comprises at least 2 percent of gross sales.

The suggested fee met with some skepticism when presented to the board of selectmen on Tuesday.

“Why should the merchant retain the fee?” asked resident Lionel Menard. “I don’t see why Hannaford should be making money on this.”

The Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee will be contemplating language for its proposed non-binding question, and may have it ready for the board by the time it convenes July 8. If selectmen decide not to place the issue on November’s ballot, Andersen and his committee may need to cobble together a citizen’s initiative, provided they can secure enough signatures.

Andersen said the committee will have to be careful in how it crafts the language; to make the initiative as similar as possible to Portland’s, it would have to be clear that the fee applies only to shopping bags, not to other bags made of plastic ”“ such as the ones that are used to wrap meat at a deli, for instance.

“When you think about it, it’s a very complicated question,” said Selectmen Chairman Al Searles.

Another initiative being contemplated by the committee is a means of promoting a service offered by the Epilepsy Foundation New England Donation Center.

“The public can contact them, and they can come to your home and pick up your used clothing from you,” said Andersen.

Those clothing items, he said, are essentially donations to persons living with epilepsy. Those interested in scheduling a free home pickup can call the Epilepsy Foundation New England Donation Center at 888-322-8209.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 319 or [email protected].