The members of the Pemaquid Watershed Association have agreed that their board of directors made the right call in July when the board decided against merging with four other area conservation organizations.
Two hundred and forty-seven PWA members attended a members-only meeting at Lakehurst in Damariscotta Tuesday, Aug. 31 to consider a petition question that would have directed the board to reconsider the proposal. Of the members present, 82 voted in favor of the merger and 165 against.
Members were notified of the outcome by email Tuesday morning.
“I think the members have spoken clearly that they do not approve of the merger,” PWA Executive Director Donna Minnis said.
The conversation about merging local conservation groups started in 2013, according to The Lincoln County News archives. In January 2015, an email went out to the memberships of the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, Sheepscot Wellspring
Land Alliance, Hidden Valley Nature Center, and PWA about the groups’ exploration of consolidation.
The merged group would have had a combined 2,500 members and manage more than 7,000 acres of land.
Proponents of the merger said a larger organization could better undertake large-scale conservation projects, pursue grant funding, and coordinate volunteers. It would also eliminate competition between the five organizations for staffing and resources.
Opponents expressed concern that the merger would eliminate local control and lead to a loss of individuality and focus, among other concerns. Opponents also questioned the makeup of the proposed governing board and raised concerns about control of local funds.
The boards of directors for the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, and Hidden Valley Nature Center have all supported the merger. The Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance membership will vote on the question Sunday, Sept. 20.
The PWA Board of Directors voted against the merger July 2. The secret ballot vote was 6-5 against the merger with one abstention.
According to a statement on the PWA website, the primary reason the board did not vote for the merger was that it was “not a good fit” for the association at this time.
The board of directors also released a statement saying, “although currently financially stable, organizations such as PWA do need to be looking into the future to ensure sustainability, and the board has made a commitment to do that.”
A member petition was presented to the PWA board secretary on July 8 requesting a special meeting for members to vote on the merger.
Before the vote took place, members had half an hour to ask questions about the merger to individuals representing the pro-merger and anti-merger opinions.
Minnis represented the pro-merger side of the question. PWA Board of Directors member Chris Roberts, of Damariscotta, spontaneously represented the anti-merger side. (Ed. note: Roberts is the owner and publisher of The Lincoln County News.)
PWA Board of Directors member Peter G. Lawrence, of Nobleboro, said questions addressed members’ money and what it would be used for, as well as how much control members would have within a new organization.
“There are many, many reasons why people voted against it, but I think a lot of it had to do with the fact we would be losing our independence,” Lawrence said.
Minnis said any questions about the future of the PWA will be addressed at a board of directors meeting Thursday, Sept. 3.
“The good news is this has helped raise awareness, and the members are engaged more closely about the challenges facing PWA,” Minnis said.
Lawrence said he hoped members of PWA could overcome any animosity that may have arisen during the merger discussions so the association could focus on the goals outlined in its mission statement.
“This was a huge distraction, no doubt about it,” Lawrence said.
With exception to the results of the vote, the PWA has removed all information about the merger from its website.
