The other day Jack Kareckas posted the following comment on a previous story. I asked him for permission to post his comment as a guest editorial. I join Jack in his call for great public access to our Town Government meetings. It is dismaying that so few citizens are at meetings where decision are made [...]
Posts under ‘So. Berwick Government’
Achieving Dreams and Reflecting Values: Economic Development in South Berwick
At its next regular meeting, the South Berwick Economic Development Committee will hear from consultants Chuck Lawton and Frank O’Hara of Planning Decisions about possible strategies for the Town that would both meet the demands of the marketplace and the interests and values of residents. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2009, in [...]
This Week at Town Hall & MSAD 35
Monday, March 30
Budget Workshop
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
To discuss the following: Assessing,Library, Recreation, Social Services, Social/Civic Contributions, Code, ZBA, Police, Animal Control, Dispatch, Public Safety CIP
Tuesday, March 31
Planning Board Workshop
7:00 PM – Council Chambers
1. Discuss Shoreland Zoning Comparison Matrix Provided by Jim Fisk, Town Planner.
Document
“Comparison Matrix: Existing Shoreland Ordinance, State Chapter 1000, and proposed Shoreland [...]
Recap Town Council Meeting March 23, 2009
Here’s the skinny on tonight’s Town Council meeting.
Monday, March 23
Town Council Meeting
Unfinished Business
1. Fire
A. Reconfirm Fire Truck Purchase-The Council approved the purchase of a Fire Truck for $145,000 from another Fire Department at a previous meeting. This item was to reconfirm the purchase and to have the Council vote to waive the requirement for a [...]
This Week at Town Hall
Monday, March 23
Town Council
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
AGENDA
6:30pm Public Hearing – Zoning Ordinance
7:00pm Public Hearing – Traffic Ordinance
Town Council to follow hearings
Unfinished Business
1. Fire
A. Reconfirm Fire Truck Purchase.
New Business
1. Administrative
A. Discuss/Take action on proposal for Energy Inventory.
B. Discuss/Take action on creating a Town Energy Committee.
C. Set date for public hearing on 2009/2010 budget. (April 13th)
2. [...]
This Week at Town Hall and MSAD 35
Monday, March 16
Town Council Budget Workshop
6:30 PM – Auditorium Hall
Tuesday, March 17
Planning Board Public Hearing
7:00 PM – Council Chambers
The Planning Board will be holding a Public Hearing regarding a new proposed Business Residential (BR) Zone to be located on Main Street from Dunkin’ Donuts to Sewall Road. The zoning amendments would include inclusion of the [...]
Meet John Schempf, Town Manager
The South Berwick Town Council invites you to meet South Berwick’s new Town Manager, John B. Schempf and his wife Karin Schempf on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the South Berwick Community Center, 71 Norton Street from 3 pm to 5 pm. There will be sweets and beverages served.
Recap of February 23, 2009 Town Council Meeting
Here’s the skinny on tonight’s Town Council Meeting:
This was the first Town Council meeting attended by South Berwick’s new Town Manager, John Schempf. Mr. Schempf said that he intends to spend his first month on the job listening and learning about the town and the concerns of citizens. He described his initial impressions of [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, February 23
Town Council
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
Unfinished Business
1. Discuss/take action on amendments to the Traffic Ordinance.
2. Discuss/take action on Permitted Parking Policy.
New Business
1. Planning Items:
A. Zoning Map
B. Height Change
Tuesday, February 24
Planning Board Workshop
7:00 PM – Council Chambers
1. Discuss Following Report Provided By Kristie Rabasca, Sme.
Document-Sevee & Maher Engineers, Inc. (SME) report dated August 11, [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall & MSAD 35
Tuesday, February 17
Planning Board
7:00 PM – Council Chambers
Agenda
Correspondence
1.CMP – Maine Power Reliability Program dated January 22, 2009.
RE: Request revision of the Town of South Berwick Land Use Ordinance.
2.Sevee & Maher Engineers, Inc. (SME) report dated August 11, 2008.
(Handed out at 2-10-09 Joint Workshop)
RE: Recommendations to Address Post Construction Requirements, Stormwater Phase II Program, and to [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
February 9, 2009
Town Council/Board Of Assessors
Council Chambers
6:30pm Public Hearing – Traffic Ordinance
The Town Council will hear comments from the public on proposed changes to the Traffic Ordinance
Changes (in red in the ordinance) include removing the one way Sunday traffic restriction on Young St. (pg. 2), changes to parking rules for the Paul St., Norton [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall & MSAD 35
Tuesday, February 3
Planning Board
7:00 PM – Council Chambers
Old Business And Ordinance Updates
1. Proposed BR (Business Residential) Review.
Jim Fisk memo RE: Business Residential Zone, updates.
New Business
1.MSP#09-01; Nicholas G. Tsakiris (N.G.T. Consulting) – Concept Sketch for a Major Site Plan Application.
Wednesday, February 4
School Board Meeting
Maine School Administrative District No. 35
Board of Directors – Regular Meeting
Marshwood High School
Wednesday, [...]
Recap of January 26, 2009 Special Town Meeting and Town Council Meeting
Here’s the skinny on tonight’s meetings:
Results from Special Town Meeting,
A Special Town Meeting was held to request authorization from the registered voters of South Berwick to bond two million dollars for road construction.
The request was defeated by a vote of 142 No votes to 35 Yes votes.
Monday, January 26
Town Council Meeting
Unfinished Business
1. Discuss/take action on [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, January 26
Special Town Meeting
6:30 PM – Auditorium Hall
A Special Town Meeting to request authorization from the registered voters of South Berwick to bond two million dollars for road construction. This is a continuation of the road program as discussed at Town Meeting in June.
Read more about the road bond issue: Town of South Berwick [...]
Town of South Berwick releases additional information on proposed road bond
The Town of South Berwick has just released the following press release to news outlets:
PROPOSED BOND FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Why consider bonding our road reconstruction work?
MONEY
Traditionally South Berwick has funded its road improvement work entirely through annual appropriations. Since 2002 road construction costs have risen dramatically and annual appropriations have been able to accomplish fewer [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Town Council Workshop
6:30 PM
Town Manager’s Office
The Town Council will meet with the Manager and the Finance Director for a quarterly financial review, to review the 2008 Audit and discuss the 2010 Town Council departmental budget request. Other has also been added to this agenda.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Planning Board Meeting
7:00 PM – [...]
Special Town Meeting Jan. 26 to vote on road bond
On January 12, 2009 the Town Council voted to hold a Special Town Meeting on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. to determine if the registered voters of South Berwick will approve a road bonding plan. The $2,000,000 bond includes:
$1,000,000 to reconstruct sections of Emery’s Bridge Road (The White’s Marsh section of Emery’s Bridge [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, January 12
Town Council
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
On the agenda:
Reports & Correspondence
1. Robin Stanley – Mt. A Coordinator.
Unfinished Business
1. Discuss/take action on Sidewalk Policy.
2. Set public hearing date/time for Traffic Ordinance amendments (Feb 9th).
New Business
1. Take action on renewal of liquor license and special amusement permit for Spring Hill.
2. Take action on renewal of liquor [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, January 5
Town Council Workshop
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
The Town Council will meet in a workshop setting with representatives from Aetna, TD BankNorth and staff to discuss a proposal for health insurance.
Monday, January 5
Special Town Council Meeting-Tentative
8:00 PM – Council Chambers
If necessary, the Town Council will meet in an executive session to discuss the Town [...]
PAYT began January 1, 2009
The new Pay As You Throw (PAYT) program began on January 1st. Here’s a round-up of some of the new regulations:
The Transfer Station now accepts all recyclable plastics #1 thru #7.
You still need to separate the #1 and #2 plastics because the town sells those plastics. Recyclable plastics #3 through #7 will be accepted bundled [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Revised schedule of meetings (additions in red):
Monday, December 8
Town Council
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
6:30pm Public Hearing – Solid Waste Ordinance
Town Council to follow hearing
Unfinished Business
1. Discuss/take action on request for funds from Lion’s Club.*
2. Discuss/take action on Solid Waste Ordinance.
New Business
1. Discuss/take action on the following board applications:
Nora Irvine, Board of Assessment Review.
Angela Walters, Board [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, December 1
Stakeholder Meeting: So. Berwick Feasibility Study
7:00 PM – Auditorium Hall
South Berwick Meeting Agenda
Kittery Area Metropolitan Planning Organization & Southern Maine Regional Planning
Introduction and overview of purpose of meeting
Overview of Rte. 236 Study Results as they relate to South Berwick
-What is a Purpose and Need Statement?
Public Feedback: Part 1 – The problems
-What are the [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, November 24
Town Council Meeting
6:30 PM, Council Chambers
The Town web site is down today so I don’t have the agenda but according to Foster’s Daily Democrat one agenda item includes the proposed revisions to the solid waste ordinance and whether there the Council will schedule another public hearing.
I’ll update this post when the Town website [...]
Breaking News: South Berwick Town Manager Search
The South Berwick Town Council just issued the following press release:
The South Berwick Town Council will be starting their search process for a Town Manager again. Jean Demetracopoulos, the Council Chairman informed the board during their executive session last night that the finalist for the position has decided to decline the Council’s offer of employment. [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, November 17
Town Council Workshop
6:30 PM – Town Manager’s Office
The Council will meet in a workshop to review the proposed changes to the Solid Waste Ordinance, the Vaughan Fund and Council Procedures. The Town Manager and other staff members may be in attendance.
Monday, November 17
Zoning Board of Appeals
7:00 PM – Council Chambers
NEW BUSINESS
Case #02-08; Map [...]
Recap of November 10, 2008 Town Council Meeting
Here’s the skinny on the Monday, November 10, Town Council Meeting
New elected Councilors Gerald MacPherson Sr. and David E. Webster sign the oath of office after being sworn in by Town Clerk Barbara Bennett.
Agenda:
Organizational
1. Elect Chairman- Jean Demetracopoulos was unanimously re-elected as Town Council Chair.
2. Adopt meeting rules-The Council unanimously voted to adopt meeting rules [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, November 10
Council Workshop
6:00 PM – Council Chambers
The Council will meet in a workshop setting with the Manager to discuss the fist quarter 09 financial statements.
Monday, November 10
Town Council
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
Agenda:
Organizational
1. Elect Chairman.
2. Adopt meeting rules.
3. Sign policy on Treasurer’s Disbursement Warrants for Employee Wages & Benefits.
4. Elect Chair and Treasurer of the [...]
District 148 Maine House of Representatives Candidate: Roberta B. Beavers
Roberta B. Beavers is running for Maine House of Representatives District 148 (Eliot and parts of South Berwick. If you want to know what district you are in go to Maine.gov-lookup)
Why are you running for this position?
Very simply, the needs and concerns of Eliot and South Berwick citizens are not being heard in Augusta. [...]
Recap of October 27, 2008 Town Council Meeting
Here’s the skinny on tonight’s meeting:
October 27, 2008
Public Hearing – GA Appendices update-Got there a couple of minutes late and missed this. It was either not held or very short.
Vaughn Fund-There was discussion regarding the investment strategy for the Vaughn Funds (Approximately $330,000 of which approximately $320,000 is in the money market at 3%). There [...]
This Week at South Berwick Town Hall
Monday, October 27
Public Hearing General Assistance Ordinance Updates
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
Monday, October 27
Town Council Meeting
6:30 PM – Council Chambers
New Business
1. Take action on General Assistance Appendices annual update.
2. Take action on skid steer bid.
3. Take action on purchase of 2008 police cruiser.
4. Approve contract w/Pheonix Recycling for the purchase of PAYT bags.
5. Schedule public [...]
