South Freeport Neighborhood Association

Annual Meeting  -  10-23-2006

 

 

The meeting was held in the Community Hall of the South Freeport Church, from 7:00-9:00 pm. on Monday October 23, 2006.  About 40 people attended.  Refreshments were served.

 

 

1. Welcome.

            Cynthia Taliaferro, President, welcomed those attending.  She introduced the other four SFNA Directors:  Mary Eliza Wengren, Secretary; John Thomas, Vice President; Cindy Doolan, Vice President; and Jay Flower, Treasurer.  She explained that we would review the year, tell about upcoming programs and elect Directors for the coming year.

 

 

2. Year in review and Treasurer’s report.

            Jay explained that we opened the year with the showing of the silent film about building the Red Oak barges in South Freeport during World War II.  In July, we sponsored the outdoor concert by the band “Cool Water,” something which we hope to make an annual event.

            There was $232 in the treasury at the beginning of the year.  Our income was $636 and our expenses were $279 (including our annual non-profit filing fee and website hosting), leaving a balance of $598 in our operating account.  The cost of the concert was donated, so we would need to pay that next year if we hold the event again.  We need members’ dues to operate.           

 

 

3. Plans for the coming year.

            Cindy said that our next event would be Holiday Caroling in the Village, co-sponsored with the South Freeport Church, The Village Store, and L’Ecole Francaise du Maine.  We will have a horse drawn wagon making rounds of village streets, and refreshments will be served in L’Ecole Francaise.  The date is December 14, and the time 5:00 to 7:30 pm.

            Ideas for the coming year include programs on the health of the Harraseeket River, eco-friendly landscaping, and events such as a community yard sale day and a community baseball game.  Our goal is to have three or four events per year.              

           

 

4. SFNA website.

            John reviewed the South Freeport Neighborhood Association website www.sofreeme.org.  On it we post information about the organization, committees you can join, upcoming events, membership information including a membership form, and old and new photos of South Freeport.  We are thinking about adding a community bulletin board for selling/trading items.

            We also have a SFNA email distribution list, which you can join.  It is controlled by John, so that only those who want to will receive notices about events relating to South Freeport.

 

           

5. Thank yous.

            Cynthia thanked those who had helped us out during the year:  people who had distributed notices about our events, planned activities, and contributed food to events.

 

 

 

 

6. Report of the Nominating Committee.

            The Nominating Committee proposed the following names for Directors:

                        For a one year term – Cynthia Talliaferro and Jane Horsfall.

                        For a two year term – Jay Flower, Cindy Doolan and John Thomas.

She asked if there were any nominations from the floor, and there were none.

            The slate of Directors was accepted unanimously.

 

 

7. Opportunity for comments.

            Cynthia then opened the floor for comments about what is happening with the SFNA.  One person said how much they appreciated the fact that the Soule Park had been created.  Now that the park existed, information about it could go on the SFNA website, particularly requests for volunteers to help with maintenance.

            It was suggested that people needed to pay attention to village parking issues.       Concern was expressed that the proposed retirement community on Winston Hill could pollute the aquifer, affecting the South Freeport Water District and the Harraseeket Harbor.

 

 

8. Speaker:  Joe Migliaccio.

            Cynthia introduced Joe Migliaccio, District Three Town Councilor.

            Joe explained that District Three includes more than the immediate South Freeport area.  It stretches from Porters Landing to Yarmouth and beyond the highway.

            When he was elected last November, his goals were to keep taxes down, ensure that the Town budgeted carefully, and settle the use of the Soule School property.  He was pleased with the combined use of the property that had been worked out. 

            During the process, he was surprised by the resentment of South Freeport which he encountered.  He felt that the town was playing one neighborhood against another.  When the town is split in half by two major highways, it is difficult to maintain a sense of community.  The new Community Center would help.  He wanted to foster a sense of community and cooperation.

            Joe expressed the opinion that growth and development were major issues for the town.  He was disappointed that the 2002 report of the Residential Growth Management Committee had never been discussed between the Town Council and the Planning Board in workshops.  The Freeport Economic Development Committee, which is funded by taxpayer money, is promoting development in its Vision 2010 Plan.  How far does the town want to develop?  Is the Town Council representing developers or residents?  Development could overwhelm town infrastructure, particularly the sewer plant.

            Residents needed to speak up in town affairs.  He welcomes comments and any dialogue with District Three residents.  To be most effective, however, people should write letters to or email the Town Council Chairman, James Cassida, and the Town Manager, and send him copies.

            Joe believes that the Comprehensive Plan needs to be updated.  Townspeople should be surveyed to find out what they value and how they want their community to grow.  Doing so could bring people together to clarify some of these issues.

            He suggested that people read the Brookings Report carried out at the request of GrowSmart Maine  “Charting the Maine Course.”  (The website is www.GrowSmartMaine.org.)  It is crucial to preserve the unique qualities of Maine as the state grows.

            When asked about the proposed retirement community, Joe explained that the state says that communities have to create districts for this type of development when certain criteria are met:  150 units for people 55 years old and older with continuing care on at least 30 acres of land.  Freeport’s solution was to create a “floating overlay district” for the area between Route One and Pine Street on the north side of Winston Hill.  The project still has to go before the town’s Project Review Board and be approved.  In his opinion, this process did not allow much discussion of important zoning issues, and he voted against the overlay district.

            Questions and comments centered on the issues of development, the attitude of the Town Council, and the effect that development would have on the harbor and the Harraseeket River.  Parking in South Freeport was mentioned again.

 

 

 

9. Wrap-up and refreshments.

            Cynthia thanked Joe for coming to speak to us.  She said that since there was such interest in the risks of pollution to the harbor, we would consider holding a program on the health of the Harraseeket River sooner rather than later. 

            Then everyone enjoyed refreshments of cider and homemade bars and cookies.

 

 

 

Submitted by Mary Eliza Wengren, 11-03-2006.