Recap of May 12, 2008 Town Council Meeting
Here are the highlights (or lowlights, depending on where you stand) of tonight’s Council Meeting
Special Town Meeting
Paper ballot votes were held on three warrant articles:
Article 2. To see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate and expend from the Undesignated General Fund Balance to cover the unexpected orverdraft in the Highway budget for 2007/08 Winter Maintenance.–Town Council Recommends: $150,000 from Undesignated General Fund-article failed 32 yes to 38 no
Article 3. To see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate and expend from the Undesignated General Fund Balance to cover the unexpected orverdraft in the 2007/08 Town Manager budget.–Town Council Recommends: $100,000 from Undesignated General Fund-article failed 21 yes to 50 no
Article 4. To see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate and expend from the Undesignated General Fund Balance to cover the unexpected orverdraft in the 2007/08 Administration budget.–Town Council Recommends: $15,000 from Undesignated General Fund-article failed 25 yes to 48 no
Town Council Meeting
Councilor Gagne was not present due to vacation.
Reports & Correspondence
1. Healthy Maine Partnership presentation asking for a resolution to make town owned playgrounds, sports fields, and parks non smoking areas (not an ordinance so would be voluntary and not enforced).–This item will be on the agenda of the next town meeting.
Unfinished Business
1. Take action on Comprehensive Plan Update.
In a series of votes the council did the following:
1. Voted unanimously to remove goal 5 strategy 11
2. Voted unanimously to remove goal 7 strategy 13
(These two sections contained language that called for considering a change to a 5 acre lot requirement in some sections of town)
3. Added note clarifying use of real estate industry standard of referring to one acre as 40,000 sq. feet and clarifying that an acre is actually 43,560 square feet.
4. Voted unanimously to remove Map k-2 that reflected the above strategies.
5. Adopted the Comprehensive Plan with the above amendments and the exclusion of the fiscal capacity section in a three to one vote with Councilor Roberge voting against.
New Business
1. Discuss/take action on Safety Belt Enforcement Grant. Unanimously passed
2. Motion to approve Policy on Treasurer’s disbursement warrant for payroll. Unanimously passed
3. Sign warrant calling for Municipal Referendum on June 10th. Unanimously passed
4. Appoint warden and election clerks for June 10th election. Unanimously passed
5. Sign warrant calling for SAD #25 Referendum on June 10th. Unanimously passed
6. Discuss/take action on June 9th meeting date. Unanimously voted to cancel June 9th Town Council meeting
7. Discuss/take action on EDC request for support. Consensus to support EDC partnership with Minuteman Press for the printing of a town directory
8. Discuss ordinance to create the position of Assistant Town Manager.-Scheduled public hearing on May 27 at 6:30 on ordinance change.
9. Discuss/take action on Interim Town Manager position. Voted unanimously to appoint Roberta Orsini as Interim Town Manager.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:08 am
Looks like the bees are news again.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080521/GJNEWS_01/960632296
I guess I don’t understand.
If we want to keep South Berwick rural, why apply rules for an urban area?
May 21st, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I understand the neighbor’s concern, but I think if they educated themselves a little better, and didn’t jump to such conclusions of hysteria, they might feel a bit better.
It is apparent that George has done everything by the book, such as it is.
I will not support an ordinance to ban the bees.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I agree, I would not support such an ordinance either.
May 21st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Nor I.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Does anyone know if there is a school board meeting tonight?
May 21st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I believe so. I saw it on the marquis in front of Central School.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Dave (not the ex-councilor) –
You are spot on about keeping South Berwick rural. Also the broader concern is legislation that would erode the rural nature of town from underneath us.
If you Google “South Berwick Bees”, or a variation, you will see that our rural town has had lots of regional and Internet coverage about the bee issue that really should have stayed between two neighbors. One problem is honeybee ‘zonings’ are a “trendy hot topic” around the country. So it has garnered lots of coverage and media outlets like the Portland Press Herald (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=188039&ac=PHnws) think they need content on the subject matter.
I support not just George but the keeping of local honeybees by registered beekeepers anyplace in town.
As the bee issue has spread out across this site, anyone that is interested see my rant on the matter (with a few facts tossed in) under the “This Week at South Berwick Town Hall” thread…
June 1st, 2008 at 7:57 am
George shouldn’t worry about being shut down. In our area, we have a neighbor with a motocross track that we got a code violation against. He appealed, lost. He still hasn’t been shut down. If you know the right people, nothing will happen.