Here’s the skinny on tonight’s meeting:
At tonight’s Town Council meeting, during the time allotted for Councilor comments, Councilor David E. Webster announced that he was resigning from the Town Council effective immediately “for personal reasons.” He gave no other explanation and walked out of the meeting. There was little further discussion among the other Councilors, except to express surprise and say that the issue will be on the next Town Council agenda.
Unfinished Business
1. Administrative
A. Review Fuel Assistance Fund - The remaining Councilors voted unanimously (4-0) to transfer the Fuel Assistance Funds to the First Federated Church, where it will be handled similarly to how the Food Pantry funds are handled. The funds may eventually be transferred to a private nonprofit once that is formed.
New Business
1. Administrative
A. Charge the Building Committee with next step in Library Process-The Town Council voted unanimously to charge the Building Committee with identifying an architectural firm to do Design Development Drawings and come back to the the Council with their recommendation for a firm to complete the Design Development Drawings and request the Council authorize a contract at that time. it is expected the figure for the next step will be in the neighborhood of $50,000. There is just under $50,000 in the Library Capital Fund to go toward this. The President of the Friends of the South Berwick Library, Patti Mitchem, indicated that the Friends group could help if the costs for the drawings go over the amount held by the town.
B. Create a Special Revenue Account for the Community Garden-The Town Council voted unanimously to create a special revenue account for the Community Garden program.
C. Accept resignation from Conservation Commission-The Town Council accepted the resignation of Rebecca Gray from the Conservation Commission with thanks.
D. Confirm Assistant Town Manager appointment-The Town Council unanimously accepted the appointment of the Assistant Town Manager.
E. Discuss proposed Amendments to the Town Charter-The Town Council voted unanimously to set up a workshop to review the Town Charter.
F. Continue Discussion of Town Committee Policies and Procedures-There was discussion about bringing uniformity to Committees by setting the number of members on committees to 5 members and two alternates for any committee with judicial authority and to five members for all other committees. There was also general agreement that the Economic Development Committee become the Community Development Committee, although there were some differing opinions about the value of the Committee. There was also general agreement that a Recycling Committee and a Recreation Committee be formed. There was also a suggestions from Councilors that a Transportation Committee and a Comprehensive Plan Vision Committee be formed. No vote was taken but there was consensus that the Town Manager should continue working on the Committee Policies and Procedures to bring more consistency and clarity to the committees role in Town government.
