The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to form a 20-member Comprehensive Planning Committee at their Sept. 1 meeting.
“Our comprehensive plan expires in about a year and a half,” Town Manager Greg Zinser said. Damariscotta has been approved for a state grant through the Gateway 1 project, which will partially fund the process.
According to a memorandum from Town Planner Anthony Dater, the committee should consist of one or two selectmen, members of the Damariscotta Planning Board, representatives of the “arts/cultural/educational community,” and representatives from conservation groups and/or land trusts, one to three “business/professional people,” and three to nine citizens from different neighborhoods.
The “different neighborhoods” on the memorandum include the village, Bus. Rt. 1, Great Salt Bay, Biscay and Back Meadow roads, Egypt and Lessner roads or the “Ponds area” and the Bristol Road/School Street area. Selectmen also discussed the inclusion of the area where Bus. Rt. 1 approaches Rt. 1 north.
Zinser, Dater, Code Enforcement Officer Stanley Waltz, Road Commissioner Terry Sutherburg and Town Assessor Jurate Barnes will serve as non-voting, ex officio members.
Selectmen also appointed four new members and reappointed three current members to the Damariscotta Planning and Advisory Committee (DPAC).
The new members are Sarah Maurer, a representative of the Damariscotta Region Business Alliance, Val Coolong, President of the Board of Directors of the Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce, Linda Morkeski, Executive Director of River Arts Inc., and Karen Filler, a representative of the Pemaquid Watershed Association.
DPAC still needs seven members to fill its 20 seats. The new Damariscotta Comprehensive Planning Committee needs 20 members. To volunteer, contact Zinser at 563-5168 or townmanager@damariscottame.com.
Non-residents of Damariscotta can serve on DPAC. The committee has a 51 percent residency requirement.
