BOARD OF SELECTMEN/BOARD OF ASSESSORS MINUTES

Page 1 of 13 BOS Meeting Minutes August 10, 2021

Tuesday, August 10, 2021 6:30pm 11 Sullivan Street Berwick, ME 03901

1. Call to Order

Chair Wright called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.

2. Roll Call

Board Members Present: Chair Thomas Wright, Vice Chair Noah Cobb, Selectman Linda Corliss,

Selectman Mike Laterreur and Selectman Mark Pendergast

Board Members Absent: None

Staff Members Present: Town Manager Stephen Eldridge, Planner James Bellissimo, Code Enforcement

Officer Jenifer McCabe (via Zoom) and Town Clerk Patricia Murray

3. Pledge of Allegiance

Chair Wright led the Pledge of Allegiance.

4. Approval of Meeting Minutes

• July 27, 2021

Motion: Vice Chair Cobb moved to accept the July 27, 2021, minutes as written. Selectman Pendergast

seconded the motion.

The motion carried: 5:0

5. First Public Comment

Chair Wright opened the first public comment. There being no comments, Chair Wright closed the first

public comment.

6. Public Hearing

BOARD OF SELECTMEN/BOARD OF ASSESSORS MINUTES


None.

7. Reports of Committees

None.

• BCTV Committee

No report.

• Envision Berwick Committee

No report.

Department Reports

Recreation Director Angela O’Connor was present via Zoom. She reported that Berwick was awarded the

National Parks and Recreation grant for the youth mentorship program for rural communities that deal

with the opioid crisis. The grant is $62,000 over three years which will allow for a part-time staff

member to oversee the program.

8. Appointments/Presentations/Other Guests

• Presentation:

o James Bellissimo, Planner, changes to the LUO for the November 2, 2021,

Election

Planner Bellissimo presented the revised proposed changes to the Land Use Ordinance which will be

considered on the November 2, 2021 ballot.

1. Allowing Marijuana Establishments in the LR Zone which has frontage on Route 4, 9 or 236.

R1 R2 R3 V/C RC/I AP LR SC/I RP SP

Marijuana Caregiver Retail Store or

Dispensary X X X X C* X X C* X X X

Marijuana Cultivation Facility, Adult Use X X C* X C* X X C* X X X

Marijuana Manufacturing, Adult Use X X C* X C* X X C* X X X

Marijuana Testing Facility X X C* X C* X X C* X X X

Marijuana Store, Adult Use X X X X C* X X C* X X X

Medical Marijuana Cooperative X X C* X C* X X C* X X X

Medical Marijuana Production Facility X X C* X C* X X C* X X X

8.25.3. Location:

Marijuana Establishments are allowed in the RC/I, LR with a Base Zone of RC/I, & R3 Zones only on

properties which have frontage on Route 9, 4 or 236

2. Increasing the Marijuana Cap by 1 for Adult Use Storefront & Adult Use Production Facility.


Zone Type Limit

RC/I Zone

& LR Zone

Adult Use Storefronts 5 6

Adult Use Cultivation and/or Manufacturing Facilities

5 6

Marijuana Caregiver Retail Stores 2 3

Medical Marijuana Cultivation and/or Manufacturing Facilities

1 2

R3 Zone Adult Use or Medical Marijuana

Production Facility 1

C/I & SC/I Zone Marijuana Caregiver Retail Store 1

1. Amend Section 2.2 and 8.5 to clarify Marijuana Home Occupations.

Marijuana Caregiver Home Occupation Production: Cultivation, Delivery, Selling processing and/or

Storage of Adult Use or Medical Marijuana at a person’s primary year-round residence. This use shall be

considered an accessory use shall meet the Home Occupation requirements of Section 8.2, Section

8.25.4, 8.25.5.B and 8.25.7.

8.25 Adult Use & Medical Marijuana Marijuana Establishments

8.25.2. Exemptions: As an accessory use, Medical Marijuana Caregiver Home

Occupations shall be permitted as a Home Occupation Business in any qualifying

patient’s residence or any medical marijuana caregiver’s primary year-round residence in

every base zone and overlay zone and shall meet the requirements of Section 8.2,

8.25.4, 8.25.5.B and 8.25.7.

8.25.4. Odor Control

3. Odor Mitigation shall include carbon filtration and negative

pressure environments or sealed rooms.

• The best control technology for marijuana cultivation facilities is carbon filtration.

_________________________________________________________________________

2. Amend Section 8.25.3 to require a 100-foot setback from Residences

Marijuana Establishments cannot be within 100 feet of:

Any residence - as measured from the nearest portion of the existing or pending Marijuana

Establishment building to the nearest portion of any residence.


3. Amend Section 8.2.I Home Occupation Clarification (Removing a subjective standard)

I. A home occupation shall not create greater traffic than normal for the area it is located in or generate

more than 20 vehicle trips/day.

______________________________________________________________________________

4. Amend Section 6.2. Adopting the Maine SWS standards (By removing Timber Harvesting from

the Land Use Table)


Timber Harvesting* P P P P P P P X P P

______________________________________________________________________________

5. Amend Section 6.2 to define Solar Farms

Solar Farm: A place where a large number of solar panels are used to produce 0.5 megawatts or

more of electricity from the energy of the Sun.


E. Solar Farms X C* C* X C* C* C* X X X

8.37 Essential Services

1. Solar Farms shall be screened from view by continuous landscaping of plantings of at least

six feet along exterior lot lines adjacent to residential properties and all roads.

o James Bellissimo, Planner, Comprehensive Plan Updates

Mr. Bellissimo presented the following highlights from the Comprehensive Plan:

Survey Results:

What we like most about living in Berwick:

• The Community / The People

• Rural Character: Small Town Feel,

• Nature, Quaint, Peaceful, Hometown

• Close to: Tax free NH, cities, beaches, mountains, work


What we like least about living in Berwick:

• #1 Tax Burden

• #2 Lack of Business

• #3 Blight Downtown

• #4 Lack of Downtown / Communal spaces

• #5 Not Much to Do

• #6 Growth

Community Engagement, Studies & Plans:

• Downtown Vehicle, Bicycle & Pedestrian Study

• Great Falls Park & Outfall 7

• 2020 Plan Berwick Tomorrow Survey

• Bartlett Downtown Lighting Plan

• Branding Guide

• Downtown Vision Survey, Charette & Plan

• Workforce Housing Charette

• Camoin Market Analysis

• Recreation Master Plan & Survey

• Memorial Field Feasibility Study

• VHB Traffic & Parking Study

Top Themes & Priorities

• Preservation of Farmland, Nature Resources and Open Spaces

• Vibrant Downtown & Village Center

• Excellent Recreational Areas, Offerings & Programs

• Communication and Citizen Engagement

• Affordability of taxes, housing, and other local costs




Top Commercial Property Values in Berwick (2021)

#1 Central Maine Power, Transmission Lines $17,579,400

#2 Prime Storage $4,022,000

#3 Berwick Self Storage $2,195,100

#4 Lowery’s Furniture $2,006,900

#5 Outlook Golf $1,625,800

#6 Route 4 Self Storage $1,505,300

#7 Raymond Place Medical Marijuana Cultivation $1,462,500

#8 Little Harbor Windows $1,290,000

#9 Mick Construction $924,400

#10 Berwick Storage $850,6000

#11 Former Prime Tanning $812,300

#12 Cumberland Farms $791,900

#13 PK Storage $786,100

#14 Harvard Turf Farm $764,700

#15 Long Leaf Lumber $748,800

#16 Mick Construction $737,400

#17 Bibber Funeral Home $699,400

#18 Northeast Credit Union ATM $688,600

#19 Route 236 Solar Farm $683,900

#20 Kennebunk Savings $653,900

#21 Redimix Companies Inc. $618,300

#22 Traditional Wood Works $617,900

#23 SHOem Roadway Services $612,700

#24 420 Portland Street Marijuana Cultivation $599,200

#25 Post Office $592,300

Properties highlighted in orange have been built within the past five years.




Growth is mostly happening in our rural areas.

More will need to be done to Preserve Open Space & Farmland

We will see a major positive change with The Edge. Dwelling units will be added to the V/C

Zone where we want them.

Development should be further directed toward the V/C, R1 & R2 Zones (on Town

Infrastructure).

There are many tools available, the task at hand is to choose the right ones that fit Berwick.

What’s Next?

•Future Land Use Planning

•Growth Areas

•Rural Areas

•Open Space Plan


For more information go to

https://www.berwickmaine.org/departments/community_development___planning_/comprehensi

ve_plan.php

9. Unfinished Business

None.

10. Town Manager Report

Town Manager Eldridge reported the following:

• Wright Pierce has finished drilling and they did not find the quantity of water needed.

Wright Pierce will present findings to the BOS.

• Cranberry Meadow Road has been paved. The project is about a month behind with all

the rain delaying progress. Long Swamp is next and will be done in three stages.

• York county saw 361 new cases of Covid today. A mask mandate will be reinstated in

Town buildings. All Town employees have been asked to supply a copy of their

vaccination card to the Town Manager.

• October 2-3 is National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg,

Maryland. A few (3 or 4) BFD staff would like to go. Town Manager Eldridge

would like the Town to finance the trip. The Board approved using the travel budget

line. Town Manager Eldridge will report the amount once it is finalized.

11. Selectmen Communications

None.

12. Approval of Warrants

08-05-2021 Payroll Warrant #7 $ 80,712.34

08-12-2021 Payroll Warrant #5 $ 87,082.51

08-10-2021 A/P Warrant #9 $ 963,688.72

Motion: Chair Wright made a motion to accept the Accounts Payable Warrants as presented. Selectman

Corliss seconded the motion.


13. New Business

• Town Hall Use Policy revisions

This is a clean up of the existing policy. No changes to cost or policy except for correcting typos.

Motion: Selectman Corliss made a motion to adopt the revised Town Hall Use Policy. Selectman

Laterreur seconded the motion.


14. Quitclaim Deeds and/or Installment Contracts

None.

15. Abatements/Supplements

None.

16. Second Public Comment

https://www.berwickmaine.org/departments/community_development___planning_/comprehensive_plan.php

https://www.berwickmaine.org/departments/community_development___planning_/comprehensive_plan.php


Chair Wright opened the second public comment. There being no comments, Chair Wright closed the

second public comment.

17. Executive Session

• Title 1 §405(6)(A) – Discussion of Personnel

Motion: Chair Wright made a motion to enter into Executive Session per MSRA Title 1 §405(6)(A) –

Discussion of Personnel. Vice Chair Cobb seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously: 5:0

The Board entered into Executive Session at 7:11pm.

The Board resumed its regular meeting at 8:00pm. Chair Wright noted no actions were made

during the Executive Session.

18. Other Business/Non-Agenda Items

None.

19. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia Murray

Town Clerk

The August 10, 2021, BOS Meeting Minutes – Signed as approved at the Board of Selectmen’s

August 24, 2021, meeting.

On behalf of the Board

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Documents

BOARD OF SELECTMEN/BOARD OF ASSESSORS MINUTES