The Windham Council Chambers overflowed with public participation Tuesday night, with many residents looking for more clarity on the issue of a proposed rock quarry.

Others were there to speak for and against the quarry, proposed for the corner of Route 302 and Nash Road, as well as the corresponding quarry referendum up for vote this November.

“Please take the time to think about the issue at hand,” said Joe Gagne of Gagne Landscaping during the public hearing on the proposed gravel pit. “I hope you will include all the people, especially the people that have owned land for generations.”

Gagne said he hoped the community does not “become tunnel-visioned,” and that voters will “talk to both sides” and “think before making a check-mark this November. It takes more than a select few to make a community what it is,” he said.

Some members of the public are concerned that the referendum would change and possibly cease operations at existing quarry sites, costing them their jobs.

“This referendum could cost me my job and the job of my co-workers,” said Kevin Bunt, a local resident and rock quarry worker.

Many of the attendees addressed specific concerns of Busque’s proposed quarry near the intersection of Nash Road and Route 302.

“I am sincerely interested in continuing to do business with the town of Windham and in it,” Busque said. He said he hoped that everyone involved can come to a successful conclusion for both parties.

Margaret Pinchbeck, one the proposed quarry’s abutters and vocal opponent of the quarry, stood and read a letter from a private consulting firm, stating that there was inadequate data to determine the safety of the project.

“I don’t think I could go on living where I do were this quarry to come to my neighborhood,” Pinchbeck said before the meeting. “But, I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford to move, since my property value would fall.”

Public concerns of blasting were addressed when Busque said no blasting materials were to be stored on the site overnight, but instead transported from the blasting company to the site every day, and any leftovers taken back at the end of each operation day.

Still, concerns of water contamination from potential hazardous spills, and concerns of potential water-table compromises to abutting neighbors of the proposed site remain.

All questions were noted by Charles Brown of Sebago Technics, Busque’s design partner for the project. The companies plan to address any unanswered, or partially answered questions at the Oct. 10 council meeting, as the council decided to move on with its agenda.

Most questions of the water table, surface runoff, and protected wetlands came from the site-walk the town council and interested parties took this past Sunday.

The Windham Town Council and members of the public were led on a site walk within the debated quarry site. The purpose of the walk was to better illustrate the compliances of Busque’s proposed quarry to existing town ordinances, and to reassure the surrounding community that his operation would not infringe upon their rights as homeowners by ways of noise and groundwater disturbances.

There was a heavy rain for the first 10 minutes, but things cleared up quickly for the large group. For the most part, the walk went peacefully while councilors were shown the areas corresponding to the planning maps, and what each section would be used for.

The Oct. 10 meeting will include a “catch-all” section of public participation, where any questions or comments not specifically addressed during last Tuesday’s meeting can be voiced.