Now that the DVC has nearly completed the goal of creating a vision that represents what the community desires, it will be morphing into other committees to follow through with the vision.
DVC co-chair, Jessica Sheldon, will now serve on the Sustainability Committee with DVC member Serena Galleshaw. This committee will be tasked with overseeing the projects of other committees and ensuring that their goals reflect the environmentally friendly standards that Berwick wishes to incorporate into their future downtown.
“We want to be proactive in the environment,” said Sheldon. “We want to serve as a check and balance against the vision and make sure any ideas from the subcommittees fits the vision and reflects the results of the survey completed by Berwick residents.”
One of the first goals of this committee is to start finding ways to install policies and offer incentives to local businesses to be environmentally responsible. The group also expressed interest in working with local schools and finding ways to get the children involved.
Berwick resident, Ginny Charron, who is participating in the Sustainability Committee, said she wanted to start a community garden in Berwick.
The Berwick Art Association, the first committee to sprout from the DVC, has big plans to start working on a mural on the outside wall of Prime Tanning across from town hall. According to director, Justin Bloom, the project is scheduled to start in May 2014. The BAA encourages and welcomes community participation in this project.
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| BAA Preliminary Mural Sketch |
Also, on the BAA’s upcoming agenda is a winter Art Fair. There are at least thirty art vendors that would potentially be participating in the fair. Details of this event are still being sorted out, but the group hopes to hold the event in downtown Berwick during the second weekend of December between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Dennis Dupuis, owner of Deb & Dukes, is leading the Riverfront Committee. This group is already off to an ambitious start with hopes of utilizing the old water station as a riverfront storage and possible boat launch.
Dupuis said he aims to organize a kayak and canoe race on the Salmon Falls River next summer. He also wants to start collecting donated kayaks and old canoes for the Recreation Department.
“It doesn’t take much to fix up an old canoe,” said Dupuis. “I see people looking to get rid of them all the time.”
At the October 9 DVC meeting, Dupuis presented a photo of a boat launch that was made with concrete pavers and said he hoped Berwick could use that as a model for their own boat launch.
“All it takes is a couple of pavers and we’re in the water!” said Dupuis.
Berwick resident, Kevin Gray, is heading up the Economic Development Committee with DVC member Frank Underwood. This committee will focus on bringing new businesses to Berwick to expand its tax base.
There was a former Economic Development group in Berwick between 1998 and 2000, which resulted in the York Hospital building, Kennebunk Savings Bank and the Route 9 industrial park.
One of the group’s immediate goals was to get public works involved with their plans.
"We need to take into consideration that any new businesses will impact the budgets of our police and fire departments," said Gray.
Gray also hopes to bring more focus on the Berwick high school to give the town a sense of “school pride”.
Judy Haley, was at the October 9 DVC meeting representing the Trails Committee. This group is currently working on creating a trail that runs from Penny Pond to the Police Station.
Haley stated that the group is currently exploring funding options through grants and also hopes to recruit the help of local Boy Scouts to complete upcoming projects.
Paul and Pat Boisvert from the DVC are now leading the Preservation & Heritage Committee. According to Paul Boisvert the group consists of eight “well preserved older people” that are long standing residents of Berwick.
The groups first task is to define what in Berwick take preservation priority. It was the general consensus of the group that the cemeteries would be an ideal starting point.
Paul Boisvert also expressed concern over communication with Berwick resident and the lack of media venues available to channel information.
“I’m worried that all we’ve accomplished will go down the tubes if we don’t find a way to keep communicating with residents and getting the news out there on what we’re doing,” said Paul Boisvert.
Sheldon agreed with that statement.
“Any opportunity we have to engage the community should be taken because the last thing we want is a small group of people sitting around tables making big decisions without trying to reach out to the community for input,” said Sheldon.
These committees are all in the infant stages and welcome members or individuals interesting in contributing to the greater vision of Berwick.
Upcoming Committee meetings are as follows:
Economic Development:
October 22, at the Summit Church, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
River Committee:
October 23, at Deb & Dukes, 5:00 p.m.
Preservation & Heritage:
October 21, 9 a.m., Summit Church
Berwick Art Association:
October 16, Berwick Library, 5:30 p.m.
Meets every first and third Wednesday of the month.
Trails Committee:
October 21, Town Hall, 6:30 p.m.
