GREIG — The Town Council tonight will, for the second time, consider a moratorium on water extraction and other types of development.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. at the town office, 5216 Greig Road, on a proposed six-month moratorium on natural resource extraction activities and storage facilities.

"It'll be brought up again Wednesday, and whatever happens, happens," said Town Supervisor Marilyn E. Patterson. "There's enough people with interest that I can't not do this."

The town in April held a public hearing on a similar proposal, although that one also included major subdivisions.

However, councilmembers were split, 2-2, with Mrs. Patterson and Scott Woolschlager in favor, and Thomas P. Gunn and William Knapp opposed. Councilman Kenneth H. Mayhew Jr., who expressed support for the proposed moratorium, was out of town on business.

Since then, a clause specifying that the proposed moratorium would not restrict logging activities has been added, and the major subdivision section was removed. Because of the changes, a new public hearing was required, delaying the process.

"I think our major subdivisions are under control," Mrs. Patterson said, noting some zoning changes have already been enacted.

However, she hopes to get a moratorium passed to give town officials time to implement more specific restrictions on the other two forms of development.

"I'm pretty confident that it's going to go through," Mrs. Patterson said.

Public reaction to the proposal has been overwhelmingly positive, the first-year supervisor said.

A group of eight town residents has begun meeting to discuss zoning law changes and a long-term development plan, but all serve as town officials, in some capacity, Mrs. Patterson said. She is hoping to see other town residents participate in the process, as well.

The sessions are being held from 6 to 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, the day after regular Town Council meetings.

While the extraction provision in the proposed moratorium includes soil, rock, ore, natural gas, oil or other naturally occurring resources, regulation of water extraction is the prime target.

John T. and Lynn L. Smoke of Bangor, Pa., over the past several years have attempted to develop a facility for collection, bulk storage and shipment of spring water on their Sweeney Road property. However, many town residents have actively opposed the plan. The Smokes' proposal is now held up in state appellate court.