South Berwick adopts updated general assistance ordinance as residents urge more outreach and funding

The South Berwick Town Council voted 4-0 on Oct. 14 to adopt the Maine Municipal Association (MMA) general assistance ordinance and updated appendices A through H, including GA housing maximums for recovery residences, effective Oct. 1, 2025.

The adoption came after a public hearing in which residents and nonprofit volunteers urged the council to review whether the town's current financial and outreach approach to general assistance is sufficient as federal programs tighten and local need appears to be rising.

Dolores Leonard, of Old Fields Road, read a letter urging the council to examine the town's safety net and convene a forum with nonprofits. "Ensuring that our neighbors can stay warm, fed, and housed through the winter is a matter of compassion and community stability," Leonard told the council while asking that staff and the council assess whether the town's current aid and coordination are adequate.

Town staff summarized how the program works and how the town has used it. The town manager said general assistance (GA) is a last-resort program for immediate basic needs and noted that when need presents itself the town must provide assistance even if the budget has been exhausted. Finance staff provided recent spending figures: the town budget for GA is $38,000, and actual GA payments in recent fiscal years have been modest by comparison, roughly $1,905 in the most recent year and about $3,200 the prior year.

Residents and volunteers described rising demand for food and heating assistance and recommended better outreach. Mike Lassell, a volunteer at the town's food pantry, said demand has increased: "Over the past three years, there would be 5 to 10 people that come in in a typical evening with two bags. And now there are 15 people come in with three and four bags." Pepper Robinson urged a simple outreach tool: "Do you know people who need this help but don't know about it? ... maybe make some sort of poster to put around town to say, this is what's available."

Staff and council members said outreach and coordination are part of the next steps. The town manager and finance director said they could produce trend data for the council to review during the next budget cycle (January-February), and staff signaled willingness to convene nonprofit partners to coordinate services and publicize how to access GA. Staff also emphasized the program's confidentiality practices: clients are assigned numbers and records are kept discreet to protect privacy.

The council's formal action was limited to adopting the MMA ordinance updates; councilors did not change the GA budget at the meeting. The motion to adopt the MMA general assistance ordinance and appendices A-H passed 4-0.

Council and staff comments at the hearing noted two implementation points: (1) the MMA appendices the council adopted update allowable benefits and maximums the town uses in administering GA; and (2) under state law referenced in the meeting, municipalities must provide assistance when eligible need is presented, meaning actual payments can exceed a line-item budget if necessary. Staff said those legal constraints and growing demand are reasons to include GA trend data and funding options in the coming budget cycle.

Residents and volunteers said they want more visible, clear information on how to request help (phone numbers, discrete appointment procedures, and local coordinating partners such as Sobo Central and the food pantry). Sobo Central organizers announced a soup supper fundraiser to support local pantries on Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Spring Hill Restaurant.

The town manager and finance director offered to return with utilization trends and recommended that the council consider outreach and coordination measures as part of budget planning. The council did not take any additional formal votes on funding the GA program during the meeting.

For residents seeking assistance, staff said to contact the town (appointments are used to preserve confidentiality) and that the GA program helps current shelter, fuel and heat, electricity, food, medications and other essential needs after applicants show they have exhausted other resources.

The council's adoption of the MMA updates will be reflected in the town's ordinance records and the updated appendices are effective Oct. 1, 2025, per the adopted motion.