SOUTH BERWICK TOWN COUNCIL
AUGUST 10, 2009
Chairman Jean Demetracopoulos called the meeting to order at 7:16pm. Those present included Councilors Michelle Kareckas, David Burke, and Gerald W. MacPherson, Sr. Town Manager John B. Schempf was also in attendance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Town Council 7-27-09: On a motion by Mrs. Kareckas, seconded by Mr. MacPherson, it was unanimously voted to adopt the minutes as written.
2. Public Hearing (Shoreland Zoning) 7-27-09: On a motion by Mr. Burke, seconded by Mrs. Kareckas, it was unanimously voted to adopt the minutes as written.
SIGNING OF TREASURER'S WARRANT – July 13, 2009
On a motion by Mr. Burke, seconded by Mr. MacPherson, it was unanimously voted to sign the warrant.
REPORTS & CORRESPONDENCE
1. Comcast representative Bryan Christiansen gave the Council an update on the build-out project. Comcast currently serves 92% of South Berwick. The build-out project is still in the engineering phase and Comcast is still working with CMP and Fairpoint to obtain the necessary permits for using the poles. Mr. Christiansen stated that Comcast is aware that it won’t meet the 1 year deadline; adding that they now anticipate completion in February 2010. Areas more accessible will be completed first; areas requiring underground work (& more permitting) will take longer.
Members of the Council expressed their displeasure at the lack of progress and lack of updates from Comcast. Mr. Christiansen agreed to provide a checklist for the project and regular updates. Mr. Christiansen’s office address is Comcast, 54 Regional Dr. Concord, NH 03301.
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
1. Mrs. Kareckas:
-Asked that comments not be taken after the last agenda item.
-Confirmed that crisis leadership training is not required.
-Mentioned the Tax & Rent Refund program.
-Mentioned that TABOR is coming back.
-There is a petition circulating to repeal LD 1495. LD 1495 would tax extra services, delete the exemption for mortgage interest, and add or increase numerous other state taxes.
-Stated that she does not have a problem with the charter changes. The charter has been discussed for over a year.
2. Mr. MacPherson:
-Stated that anyone signing the petition should be sure they sign the petition for the correct town. (Village motors has the petition for both South Berwick & Eliot)
-Stated that his choice of words during the public hearing may not have been the most appropriate, when comparing the charter to a personal will. He apologized if it offended anyone. He added that he supports the charter amendments as written.
3. Mr. Burke:
-Stated that he is also collecting signatures on a petition to repeal LD 1495.
-Stated that he doesn’t see that the proposed charter changes will substantially impact the way things are being done. He did express his concerns regarding the costs involved. He added that he is on the fence and could be swayed either way.
4. Mrs. Demetracopoulos:
-Stated that she is in favor of the charter changes.
-Attended the recent SAD Board meeting. She stated that it was evident that the SAD Board was not aware of the reconfiguration of the access routes to Central School. Due to the number of questions the Board had about the proposal, they were not ready to make any commitments. It was agreed to hold a joint workshop in the fall to review the project.
Mrs. Demetracopoulos suggested holding the workshop at the Town Hall in the morning so the SAD Board members could see the activity on Main Street.
TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT
-Mr. Schempf stated that the only thing worse than not having a policy is having one that is not followed. That was the reason for reviewing the charter. Mr. Schempf explained that he has had prior experience working on charter commissions. He also stated that there aren’t any substantial changes.
-Listed board and committee openings: 2 alternates for the Board of Assessment Review, 2 seats for Conservation Commission, 1 seat on the Historic District Commission, 5 seats for the new Recreation Committee, and 2 seats for the Zoning Board of Appeals.
PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Suzanne Roberge, Berwick Rd:
-Announced that nomination papers are now available for the 2 council seats & 1 school board seat on the November ballot.
-Asked if the Comprehensive Plan chapter on Fiscal Capacity had been completed. Mrs. Demetracopoulos stated that the goal was to have the Manager direct the Finance Director to have it ready prior to the audit.
-Asked about the Central School connector road as an agenda item. Mrs. Demetracopoulos stated that it would come back after the joint workshop.
-Commented that Councilor Burke should not have seconded a motion or voted to adopt the last minutes because he was not present at the meeting.
2. Laura Leber, SAD Board member:
-Stated that there were several reasons for turning down the request to help fund the connector road at Central School. They included the fact that the access road has nothing to do with education, Eliot voters have had no input, and would feel better if it could be budgeted for.
3. Virginia Jennings, Earls Rd:
-Commented that TABOR is coming back along with the excise tax referendum. She added that she is also passing the same petition to repeal LD 1495.
-Expressed her disappointment that our town taxes going up.
4. Cliff Cleary, Spillane’s Hill Rd:
-Stated that starting the meeting at 6:00 makes it difficult for some people to attend.
-Commented that the road to Central School should be a budgeted item.
-Received confirmation that budgeted money not spent on roads last year was left in the roads capital improvement fund.
-Stated that dissolving the EDC was a bad thing to do. He asked where the money in the budget would go. Mrs. Demetracopoulos stated that it would revert to surplus.
5. Richard Young, Tamarack Dr, Stated that according to the Town’s Purchasing Policy the Central School connector road project should have gone out to bid.
6. Richard Clough, Academy St:
-Stated that everyone should be concerned with the cost of the proposed charter changes. He added that a charter commission should be established and included in the next budget.
-Expressed his wish that the Assessors would reconsider their vote to increase the tax rate. He stated that the increase was an atrocity since it was not needed and we are in a recession. -He went on to comment on a legal opinion received by the Manager from Jeff Herman of the Maine Municipal Association regarding the overlay. Mr. Clough expressed his frustration with the Manager’s statement (made at an earlier meeting) that he had a legal opinion when Mr. Herman’s letter states “… I am not a lawyer and this is therefore not a legal opinion”.
-Commented that the tax relief fund is for excess taxes collected during the fiscal year. Supplemental tax bills and tree growth removal penalties are examples.
7. Albert Roberge, Butler St, commented that the school district says it has no money, but they seem to carry more than $500,000 over to the next year’s budget.
8. Norma Tutelian, Butler St, asked what happens if people don’t pay their taxes and the town goes bankrupt. Mr. Schempf stated that he has worked for a bankrupt town and you operate at a deficit, keep taxing, and hope people catch up. He added that South Berwick is not in danger; and this year our foreclosures are down.
9. Eric Pelchat, Front St expressed his disgust at the increase in the tax rate.
10. Audrey Fortier, Rodier Rd:
-Thanked the Council for its aggressive stand on Comcast.
-Stated that a much broader input is necessary for changing the charter.
-Received confirmation that the connector road for Central School could still happen at some time in the future.
-Asked which roads are or were scheduled to be paved. Info not readily available at meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
1. On a motion by Mrs. Kareckas, seconded by Mr. Burke, it was unanimously voted to accept the Strawberry Festival grant for crosswalk signs in the amount of $932.00.
2. On a motion by Mr. MacPherson, seconded by Mrs. Kareckas, it was unanimously voted to accept Cliff Cleary’s resignation from the Economic Development Committee.
On a motion by Mr. MacPherson, seconded by Mr. Burke, it was unanimously voted to accept Marian “Mimi” Demers’ resignation from the Economic Development Committee.
On a motion by Mrs. Kareckas, seconded by Mr. MacPherson, it was unanimously voted to accept Brad Christo’s resignation from the Planning Board.
3. On a motion by Mrs. Kareckas, seconded by Mr. Burke, it was unanimously voted to hold a public hearing on Monday, August 24, 2009 at 6:30pm to receive comment on the proposed amendments to the Historic District Ordinance.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Mrs. Kareckas, seconded by Mr. Burke, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:17pm.
Attest:
Barbara Bennett, CCM
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