The new Downtown Revitalization Advisory Committee charged with advising the Town Council will be chaired by Town Councilor Jessica Cyr, with Councilor Melissa Costella as her vice chair, the council decided this week.
The council agreed that Cyr and Costella should lead the committee at the recommendation of Town Manager Tim Pellerin.
“We need to make sure the committee follows the same rules and procedures that the (town) council follows,” Pellerin said. “We only have one shot at this and we need to make sure we get it right.”
The citizens’ committee was created this fall by the Town Council with the intention of seeking public opinion on revitalizing South Berwick’s downtown.
While no formal timeline was set, it is anticipated the committee’s work will conclude within 12 to 15 months “in conjunction with the traffic signal planned for downtown,” according to Pellerin.
In remarks after the meeting, Pellerin said that as a municipal administrator he has “seen too many committees not be successful,” and he believes Cyr and Costella will play a vital role in ensuring the downtown committee’s effectiveness. They will oversee the group’s adherence to such procedures as taking minutes, developing formal agendas, and documenting motions and votes, he said.
Councilor Jeff Minihan cast the only vote against the councilors acting as chair and vice chair, questioning the decision to have “two council members giving a report to the Town Council about a committee which they lead.” The vote was 3-1, with council Chair Mallory Cook absent,
Instead, Minihan proposed that committee members themselves could appoint their own chairperson and vice-chairperson. He also expressed doubts that “the Town Council has the authority to appoint a chair and vice chair of a committee serving the town.”
In response, Councilor John James indicated precedent for such appointments.
“(Former councilor) Abby Sherwood was chair of the Pedestrian Safety Committee,” he said.
Cyr emphasized that she and Costella are determined to “conduct meetings that are productive” and to “get the work done on schedule.”
