from the Portsmouth Herald reporter J.Scardina.

Town OKs donation for fields study By Jesse Scardina
jscardina@seacoastonline.com
NH_Portsmouth_Herald

KITTERY — The Town Council approved the decision to schedule a public hearing to discuss the matching of $12,500 from a private donation to conduct a master plan for the town’s athletic fields Monday night.

The council also approved the advertising of several upcoming community events and began receiving bids for the construction of a new roof for Town Hall.

“We’ve opened the bidding for the new town hall roof and received five bids, ranging from $132,650 to $227,500,” said Nancy Colbert Puff, Kittery’s town manager. “We’re currently evaluating the bids.”

Colbert Puff also said that due to Code Enforcement Officer Heather Ross’ last day on Thursday, the town may need to close the planning and code enforcement office to foot traffic during the interim.

The Town Council listened to a presentation from Fire Chief Dave O’Brien, who informed the council about the department’s Inclement Weather Special Needs Request, which the chief is starting up along with the police department and ambulance services to help residents who may need a welfare check if the power goes out, due to the use of an oxygen tank or other electric medical device.

“It allows anyone in the town that might need special assistance when we lose power or have bad weather to let us know and we can check to see if they’re OK,” O’Brien said. “When the need arises, all three agencies will work together to make contact with people who may need it.”

The town scheduled a public hearing on Oct. 15 at its next Town Council meeting to discuss the use of $12,500 to match private donations to create a master plan for the town’s athletic fields, including Memorial Field and Shapleigh Field.

“I’ve been updating the council on discussions I’ve had with volunteers, particularly about Memorial Field,” Colbert Puff said. “They’ve also spoken with the recreation and school departments and decided with the bunch of fields we have, how to best utilize them.”

The council also received a presentation from members of the Kittery Point First Congregational Church, which is celebrating its 300th anniversary on Nov. 2.

The council voted to postpone the adoption of amended regulations to the town’s personnel board and human resources management position until the next meeting.

The council also renewed the liquor license for When Pigs Fly Pizzeria on Route 1 and approved the advertisement of the Kittery Point Fire Association’s upcoming ham and bean supper, as well as the Traip Athletic Boosters Craft Fair Committee to hang a banner advertising its craft fair on Nov. 22.

OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT DID NOT MAKE IT TO PRESS

Nomination papers are back in. The candidates running for the Town of Kittery Town Council are, Jeff Brake, Kenneth Lemont, and Judy Spiller.

The candidates for School Committee are David Bathelder, John Driscoll and Rhonda Poperleau.

The request to use the Memorial Field for the Charity Defense Council was not passed. Other areas were suggested to hold the event which originally was scheduled to be at 4:30 a.m. in the morning and expected to draw over 500 people. Counselors considered the time, the noise from the music, pa system and the people from the event itself as well as insurance and the location were of concern.

Council accepted the resignation of the Kittery Port Authority Dan Arbo and the retraction of the application for reappointment from Barry Bush. Ken Lemont was recommended for interview with councilor Jeff Brake and KPA Melanson. There will be other nominations of for the board in the coming weeks.

The Personnel Board is sparse of members as well as other a few other boards. Kittery could use volunteers for these various boards and welcome a fresh prospective at anytime. OURKITTERY will post an entire list of boards later today.

An adjustment to the tax rate was announced from a recent work shop as well as a productive meeting with the Town of Eliot Selectmen and Manager.