The town of South Berwick is in good shape financially, according to the annual audit completed by an accountant hired by the town.
“The town is in a very good financial position,” said Peter F. Hall of South Portland, presenting his final audit report to the Town Council at its Dec. 17 meeting. An examination of the town’s accounts showed the town has a healthy balance between assets and liabilities in all accounts, Hall said.
The town staff, particularly Assistant Town Manager Jennifer Janelle, prepared diligently for the audit and kept great day-to-day maintenance of records, according to Hall, who has been the town’s auditor for several years.
“It’s as good as it gets,” he said.
The audit of town books for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, began in late September, was completed in late November, and the final report was issued in early December.
Also at last week’s meeting, Tin Smith of Great Works Regional Land Trust showed the council conceptual plans for infrastructure needed to provide access to the Salmon Falls Tidal Waters project off Old Fields Road. The goal is to begin work in the spring, Smith said.
South Berwick voters agreed in May to allow the town to allocate $200,000 from undesignated funds for stewardship of the Land Trust’s 79 acres of uplands, salt marsh and a quarter mile of river frontage in the Piscataqua River watershed.
The town’s contribution will be used to provide access to the site, including parking for nine cars, bicycle parking, a handicapped accessible pathway, traditional hiking trails, bench seating in a central gathering area, and two wooden platforms for scenic overlooks.
In other business, the Town Council agreed that each of the two citizen advisory committees, approved last month to help put in place both the Comprehensive and the Downtown Revitalization plans, will have five voting members and two alternates.
Residents interested in being on one of the committees have until mid-January to send an application to Town Clerk Tyanne Giambusso, 180 Main St., South Berwick, ME 03908 or by email to tgiambusso@sbmaine.us. Applications and information about the committees are available on the Town website.
The town has provided binder copies of the Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Revitalization Plan at the South Berwick Public Library for convenient viewing.
Also on Dec. 17, councilors voted to accept a $5,000 grant from American Online Giving Foundation/Benevity toward the cost of a new fire truck the town has on order.
The foundation is managed by Benevity, a nonprofit that supports communities through initiatives that “strengthen community safety, vibrancy and sustainability,” according to a letter to the town announcing the grant award. The foundation is funded by over 630 corporate sponsors including Enbridge, a multinational energy company whose donation funded the fire department grant.
