A walk in the woods. A twenty minute walk on a town owned and maintained path off Bunganuc Road leads to Maquoit Bay.
- Council representative to the Land For Brunswick’s Future Board (LBF)
- LBF was created as a result of a 2006 advisory referendum that asked whether citizens favored creating a one million dollar fund for the purposes of acquiring and preserving open space in a manner consistent with the 2002 Open Space Plan, for both active recreation and as conservation land. Although the citizens approved the referendum, LBF remains unfunded.
- Assisted Brunswick Area Citizens for a Safe Environment (BACSE, a federally funded watch dog charged with monitoring superfund clean-up on the former Navy Base) in reaching compromise language with the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority for ordinance language for the new town zoning districts on the base. The language requires continued clean-up in a manner consistent with EPA superfund requirements and other existing environmental standards.
- Sponsored new ordinance allowing “urban chickens.
Neighborhood chicken coop available since I sponsored this item in 2009. No complaints and free eggs for the neighbors!
- PACE subcommittee (a state program providing low interest loans for energy efficiency upgrades).
- Sponsored council item to purchase the “Coombs” property. This 24 acre parcel along the Androscoggin was purchased as a joint venture between LBF and the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust (BTLT)
- One step in an eventual conservation corridor along the Androscoggin from the bike path to the Durham line.
- Grant restrictions prevented BTLT from raising entire purchase price. As a result Brunswick appropriated the funds from a restricted use development impact fee account to make the down payment. No taxpayer money used.
- Once BTLT raises the remaining money to complete the purchase the land will be conveyed to the town with a conservation easement. Creative funding and partnership with BTLT allowed for acquisition of property even in the absence of LBF funding.
Among the eelgrass at Maquoit Bay
- Voted against 2010 municipal budget due to elimination of Natural Resource Planner from planning department budget and elimination of Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator (Dep. Dir. of Public Works) News article from the Forecaster below.
Mon, Sep 19, 2011
Brunswick council adopts $53.4 million budget
Jun 02, 2010 2:20 pm
BRUNSWICK — The Town Council adopted a $53.4 million spending plan for fiscal 2011, a budget that includes laying off two high-profile municipal employees.
The two employees, Vanessa Levesque, the natural resources planner, and Craig Worth, the deputy director of Public Works, led to a divided 6-3 budget vote, as separate attempts to restore the positions were struck down by the majority.
The spending plan will require a 1.46 percent increase in property taxes, bumping the mil rate from $22.54 per $1,000 of assessed value to $22.87.
…..
Levesque and Worth(‘s) retention drew support from a significant contingent of residents and town committee members. Three councilors, Ben Tucker, Benet Pols and Vice Chairwoman Debbie Atwood attempted to restore those positions the 2011 budget, but both motions were defeated, 6-3, on May 27.
Levesque earned more than $42,000 in fiscal 2010, while Worth made more than $76,000. Combined, their salaries equaled about $118,000 – less than half of 1 percent in property tax revenue.
… the minority said base closure would likely necessitate the need for more town staff, especially as it takes on more property and attempts to delineate developable land with Bowdoin College on the west side of the base.
In an earlier budget hearing, Pols worried that laying off Levesque would leave the town without an experienced advocate in the discussions about natural resources….
- Supported re-appointment of Kermit Smyth to Conservation Commission (effort failed)
- Member, Brunswick Conservation Commission, 1993-94
- Member, Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, Cathance River Education Alliance, Natural Resources Council of Maine.