This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, August 4
Town Council Workshop-6:30 PM - Council Chambers
The Town Council will meet in a workshop with a representative from Maine Municipal Association to begin their search for a permanent Town Manager.
Tuesday, August 5
Planning Board -7:00 PM - Council Chambers
On the Agenda:
Election Of Officers - Rescheduled from the July 15, 2008 meeting.
Old Business
1. Rules of Procedure and Code of Ethics: Planning Board Bylaws - Continued.
2. Schedule a Public Hearing on B-1 Zone Expansion for August 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM.
New Business
1. SP #08-01; Paul Mesmer, Map 21 Lot 29 - Change of Use: Addition of Second Floor Apartment.
Wednesday, August 6
Economic Development Committee Meeting - 1:00 PM - Council Chambers
Old Business:
1) Ribbon Cuttings:
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings - Bubbletime on hold until the laundromat has a grand opening.
2) Subcommittee Update:
Board of Trade: Status Update - Kathy Wolfe.
3) Economic Development Facilitator: Training session - Karyn Scharf Morin.
–Bylaws, Review of Officers, meeting times, and amendments.
Tags: so. berwick government
August 6th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Someone brought cows to the cove. It was a big deal. They built the kings highway and took away the tall pines. Back in my day farmers harvested in the fall, reclaimed and cleaned seeds, and planted in the spring. In 1980 the US Supreme Court allowed a company to patent seeds. Seeds. The genetic repository of the food we eat. Farmers who purchase roundup ready seeds are required to sign an agreement promising not to save the seed after harvest; they need to buy new seed every year. That’s just odd.
Should we have local control over the local economy or big business control over an economy that is increasingly globalized?
Is it elitist to say that we do not always embrace what is in our best interest? Should we be able to determine the terms and conditions on which goods, services, and financial assets are made and traded? The answer is yes. Box stores promote consumer culture. Things arrive magically in container ships from other continents: plastic cups, a fourth pair of blue jeans, a lawn mower. Sixty five percent of the American economy is based on purchasing objects. To call this consumption is a bit misleading because we don’t eat these things; we throw them into landfills when we are done with them. In Europe less than half the economy is based on purchasing things.
Do you want to facilitate the sale of commodities? Do you want to open up a racquetball club? A hardware store? An organic farm with an indoor playground? Talk to the neighbors first. Do something fun. Life is too short not to be creative. Have a vision. And once you have it, remember § 140-50 related to amusement centers. A. In addition to automobile parking spaces required in this chapter, all amusement centers shall provide facilities for the parking of bicycles. Bicycle racks shall be located off the sidewalk or other pedestrian way, and away from automobile traffic lanes. A minimum of one space for every two amusement devices shall be provided.
Take the time to read the fine print. Before they are enacted, make sure the laws say what you want them to say.