STANDISH — In response to questions and concerns raised last month about a proposed fish and game facility on town land, leaders of the effort pressed pause at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting on an order to advance the proposal.

“I’m going to make a motion that we withdraw this, kill it, and we’re going to start over again,” Town Council Vice Chairman Greg Sirpis said at Tuesday night’s council meeting.  The council agreed to withdraw the order, 5-0.

Sirpis, president of the Standish Fish and Game Club that is aiming to build a new outdoor sporting complex on land it would lease from the town, said he hopes to “start fresh” with a new order sometime in the future.

Sirpis said he wanted to circle up with his fellow club members and discuss some concerns raised by residents at a council meeting last month.

Those concerns included questions about existing membership requirements for the Standish Fish and Game Club. The group requires that its members also join the National Rifle Association and Sportman’s Alliance of Maine.

Sirpis acknowledged the fish and game order “obviously created a lot of confusion and a lot of questions” at the Sept. 12 meeting.

“Once I have an opportunity to meet with the fish and game club, we’ll come back with a new order, and we’ll make sure that the public has plenty of notice. That’s my motion,” Sirpis said.

Councilor Steven Nesbitt pointed out that Sirpis and Councilor Brian Libby were recused from voting on the subject at last month’s meeting because of their roles with the fish and game club. Libby is a club board member.

“Sorry to be a stickler, but councilor Sirpis and councilor Libby have been recused from this, so I don’t think it’s appropriate that they make that motion,” Nesbitt said. “I think two other councilors need to make that motion.”

Sirpis said at last month’s meeting that he has offered to recuse himself throughout the process.

After a discussion of whether or not to delay the fish and game order on the table Tuesday night or to remove it entirely, Nesbitt eventually made the motion to remove it – which was Sirpis’ preference.

“Until I speak with the club, I don’t have a timeframe,” Sirpis said. “I would much rather under promise and over deliver,” Sirpis said.

Despite raising several questions last month, each of the other members of the Town Council have indicated some level of support for the general idea of the fish and game facility.

Matt Junker can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 123 or mjunker@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @MattJunker.

The Standish Town Council voted Tuesday to remove an agenda item dealing with a proposed fish and game facility. Council Vice Chairman Greg Sirpis, who is also president of the Standish Fish and Game Club, asked for the removal so he could discuss the proposal further with his fellow club members.

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