SAD 35 costs up $1.7 million
Portsmouth Herald News
Superintendent Jeffrey Bearden of School Administrative District 35 says that taxpayers in Eliot and South Berwick will have to pay an additional $1.7 million to fund schools in fiscal year 2009..

Land Trust looks to raise funds with Spring Auction
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Tickets are still available for the annual Great Works Regional Land Trust Spring Auction, scheduled for Sat., …

Eliot taxes may rise sharply
Portsmouth Herald News
Property taxes may increase by 11 percent for Eliot residents for fiscal year 2009 in order to make up for a $500000 budget …

For the love of music: Elysium Arts Folk Club brings live music to …
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Blink as you drive northeast out of Dover you just might miss the quaint li’l town of Rollinsford. It would be more of a shame than you might …

Eliot dispatch service to switch?
Portsmouth Herald News
After years of a handshake agreement that had Kittery dispatching for Eliot, the selectmen recently considered a proposal from South Berwick to take over …

EDC chair walks out of South Berwick council meeting, resigns
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Dennis Fontaine, the chairman of the town’s Economic Development Committee, frustrated with recent development projects that have stalled…. (with correction added to article…)

Industrial park bill killed
Portsmouth Herald News
State lawmakers in Augusta on Tuesday killed a bill sponsored by Sen. Peter Bowman, D-Kittery, to create a new …

Senator kills York Co. industrial park bill
Mainebiz Daily
A group of officials from seven communities — Berwick, North Berwick, South Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, Wells and York — worked for more than a year to draft …

South Berwick snow removal budget $190g in the red
Foster’s Daily Democrat
A special town meeting will be held Monday, March 10 at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall regarding the transfer of $100000 …

Church donates to South Berwick recreation fund
Foster’s Daily Democrat
The First Parish Federated Church donated $1000 to the town’s recreation fund, drawing the gratitude of town councilors …

Eliot residents have their say
Portsmouth Herald News
Some 43 Eliot residents braved the elements Wednesday night to learn the results of recent resident surveys, which are a key

Digital maps for wetlands approved
Portsmouth Herald News
The Eliot Board of Selectmen has approved an expenditure of $4950 to purchase an accurate digital map that shows the location of

Kittery School Board cuts jobs to trim budget
Foster’s Daily Democrat
The School Committee will cut several jobs in an effort to trim next year’s budget. The budget, to be forwarded to the Town

Budgeting for schools a painful task in Kittery
Portsmouth Herald News
This is, by far, one of the toughest budget seasons New Hampshire and Maine Seacoast towns have faced in a while. Constantly escalating health care and

In Kittery: Is appointment process too cumbersome, too public?
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Someday soon, candidates for the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals may no longer have to be interviewed on live …

Kittery school budget slashes jobs
Portsmouth Herald News
The School Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to cut district staffing by a librarian, two technologists, …

Snow spending buries budgets
Portsmouth Herald News
Officials in Kittery, Maine, and Seabrook expect it to be tight. Eighty-four percent through its winter maintenance budget, York, Maine, will go over, too. …

Bill would ease property tax burden for seniors
Portsmouth Herald News
Dawn Hill, D-York, the bill received the support of a number of York County legislators, including Sen. Peter Bowman. The bill is being co-sponsored by …

The Portsmouth Herald reports that although there was some dissatisfaction with the progress made by the Regional Efficiency Workgroup on their first grant, Kittery Town Council voted to support an application for a second grant. Town Manager Jonathan Carter believes the proposed legislation will be postponed to be reworked into legislation that doesn’t create a regional development authority.

Read the full article: Business park plan slow to start rolling

Also, a meeting between the REG workgroup and legislators on LD2003 is scheduled for February 22 at 2pm at South Berwick Town Hall. The agenda:

• 2008 Regional Efficiency Grant Application
• Review Public Information Meetings
• Discuss additional amendments to LD 2003
• Discuss Workgroup Report to BRED Committee
• Discuss BRED Workshop scheduled for 2.26.08

Read other entries about the Regional Development Authority

Southern York County Regional Development Authority Public Information Meeting that was originally scheduled for February 13, 2008 at Noble High School Auditorium has been postponed to Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm at Noble High School Auditorium.

Here are some additional materials:

Frequently Asked Questions document that was handed out at the first information meeting

List of York County Town Valuations and Scenarios regarding potential membership by towns

Final Report on Regional Efficiency Workgroup Grant

Find out more about the Southern York County Regional Development Authority.

Southern York County Regional Development Authority Public Information Meeting: The meeting originally scheduled for ednesday February 13, 2008 6:30 pm at Noble High School Auditorium has been postponed to Wednesday February 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm at Noble High School Auditorium.

Find out more about the Southern York County Regional Development Authority.

• In South Berwick: Town Hall, check-in starts at 2:30, caucus begins at 3 pm.
• In Eliot: Eliot Elementary School, check-in starts at 1 pm, caucus begins at 2 pm
• Kittery: Traip Academy, check-in starts at 4:30 pm, caucus begins at 5 pm

Schedule of other towns’ caucuses

New voters and voters not registered in a political party may register as Democrats at the caucus.

Expectations are for a large turnout, so you may want to go at the start of the check-in time.

Want to know how the caucus works? The Maine Democratic Party web site has a Caucus Training Packet that describes the process completely. It is designed as a guide for the caucus conveners but provides great information about what will be happening.

Here’s the really skinny on what I heard at the public meeting this morning:

• In general citizens think the idea of working regionally to promote economic development, job creation, and planning is a good idea, although they are not sold on the idea of a development authority
• Citizens at the meeting do not support this legislation as written, particularly because of the broad powers it would give a development authority, it would add another layer of government, it does not offer voter participation at key decision points, and much of the language is vague
• Citizens strongly stated that the process has not allowed enough citizen participation. Opportunities for input were poorly publicized and what has been offered has been too little, too late
• Citizens at the meeting would like regional development efforts to address sustainable practices and to be assured that a casino would not be part of the plan and would like to see that reflected in the legislation
• Citizens who spoke would like to see this legislation killed and an opportunity to start over with more citizen input during the process.

What did you hear?

Read more about the background of LD2003

In the last few weeks I’ve tried to find out everything I can about LD 2003, the bill that would allow the creation of the Southern York County Regional Development Authority. I’ve read the legislation, heard from proponents and opponents of the bill, and read the minutes of the Regional Efficiency Grant Working Group meetings. My initial reaction to the bill was negative, mostly because it seemed to come out of nowhere and I could find little information on it. I searched the Town of South Berwick website and only found allusions to it, but no clear statement about what it is and why it would be in the interest of the town to participate.

After reading all of the minutes of the Regional Efficiency Grant Working Group meetings, I am more positively disposed to the bill, but still have many questions. The minutes provided some insight into the vision behind the bill, the potential benefits, and the process for moving ahead. The positives that I saw: (more…)

The Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission (SMRPC) has posted more information about LD 2003, Southern York County Regional Development Authority on their web site, including upcoming meeting schedules. They have also have a link to the minutes of the Regional Efficiency Grant Working Group meetings. These minutes include meetings beginning in January 2007 through January 2008 and cover the genesis of LD 2003.

Two public information meetings have been scheduled to receive public input on LD 2003 “An Act to Create Southern York County Regional Development Authority.”

South Berwick: Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 9 am at Marshwood High School

North Berwick: Wednesday, February, 13, 2008 at 6:30 pm at Noble High School

Read all posts about the Regional Development Authority with links to text of legislation.

Portsmouth Herald reports this morning that the work group of seven towns that wrote the legislation to create the Southern York County Regional Development Authority met on Friday. The meeting was attended by Senator Peter Bowman and Representative Bonnie Gould, cosponsors of the bill. The group met to prepare for the work session scheduled for February 26 in Augusta.

According to the Herald’s report, both Bowman and Gould are still in support of the bill, contrary to what was reported earlier. Both indicate that they would like to see some changes to the bill before it is passed, however.

The most encouraging news is that the work group plans to provide more information about the bill to the public prior to the work session. They will hold two public hearings, yet to be scheduled, one at Noble High School and one at Marshwood High. Also Jeff Grossman will be working on a brochure of frequently asked questions and a website so people can get more information.

Here’s a link to the full article in the Portsmouth Herald: Regional authority bill still alive

For more than a year South Berwick, Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, North Berwick, and Wells have been discussing the creation of a regional development authority. As a result, LD 2003, “An Act To Create the Southern York County Regional Development Authority” was sponsored by Senator Bowman of York and cosponsored by Representative Gould of South Berwick and Representatives Wheeler of Kittery, Chase of Wells, Weaver of York, and Hill of York.

On January 17, the legislation went before the Business Research and Economic Development Committee (BRED) in Augusta for a public hearing and a vote. At the time of the hearing, Senator Bowman, the original sponsor, had withdrawn his support because he was concerned that the legislation was too strongly worded and that local citizens were not fully informed about it. Consequently BRED tabled their decision and set a work session for Feb. 26 so they can hear more input and review possible amendments to the legislation.

Citizens of the towns involved have an opportunity to learn more about the legislation, ask questions of its proponents and opponents, and let our legislators and the members of the BRED Committee know what we think of the legislation before the February 26 work session.

Here’s more information about the bill.

(more…)

Here’s a round up of newspaper articles on the proposed Southern York County Regional Development Authority from newest to oldest. Let me know if you know of others and I will add them.

Development authority bill not killed in Augusta
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH - Jan 25, 2008
Despite Sen. Bowman’s withdrawal of support, the Development Authority bill may yet still live. Jeff Grossman optimistic that Feb. 26 work session will result in viable bill…

South Berwick panel’s vote on business development agency delayed …
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH - Jan 22, 2008
The tabling of legislation for the proposed Southern York County Regional Development Authority (SYCRDA) last week was met …

Development authority bill loses Bowman’s support
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH - Jan 17, 2008
Peter Bowman, D-York County, who originally sponsored legislation for the creation of the Southern York County Regional Development Authority, has withdrawn …
(more…)

Last night we headed south to the Shipyard Brewpub in the Eliot Commons to meet friends for dinner. The place was packed by 6:30 and filled with sounds of conversation and laughter. It felt good to be part of the communal celebration of the end of the work week.

Besides a comfortable bar, the Brewpub has a dining room with a full menu. Selections include small plates, pizzas, sandwiches, fish, meat, and vegetarian entrees. They have a “little skippers” menu with child-friendly selections. Our party tried the pan roasted cod special, the buffalo chicken wrap, the grilled chicken sandwich and a chicken caesar salad. The meals were freshly made and tasty and the tab was modest. And, of course, the beer was great.