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Select Board advances multiple policy updates and discusses a proposed loitering ordinance
Summary
Berwick’s select board reviewed redlined updates to personnel- and facility-related policies (nepotism, PTO, town‑hall use, select-board rules) and discussed a proposed loitering ordinance that staff and the chief will refine before public hearings; the board also directed consistent vaping/smoking language across policies.
At its May 11 meeting the Berwick Select Board reviewed a package of policy updates and discussed a proposed loitering ordinance.
Staff presented redlined versions of several policies. The nepotism policy was updated to modernize definitions (replacing language such as “selectmen” with “select board”) and staff were asked to confirm consistency with the town’s personnel manual before moving to a vote. The board agreed the PTO policy should be inactivated because equivalent language exists in the personnel manual.
The board approved an updated Town Hall use policy (effective May 2026) that removes fees for local nonprofits and residents and clarifies calendar responsibilities and insurance requirements. Staff also proposed clarifying timing for event requests; the board supported a seven‑day advance-notice guideline with exceptions for emergency town uses.
Select board rules were revised to reflect a recent court ruling on public-comment procedures; the board concluded its current rules are generally compliant and approved changes that include updated meeting dates, packet deadlines and roll-call vote language for remote participants.
The board discussed amending the town smoking policy to explicitly ban vaping and to standardize wording across facilities (recommended phrasing: “smoking, vaping and tobacco use are prohibited”); staff will return with a consistent draft.
On a separate item, staff presented a draft loitering ordinance with legal feedback; board members expressed support for addressing public‑safety and pedestrian-safety concerns but asked staff and the police chief to narrow broad language (for example, limiting coverage to specific medians or public spaces) before scheduling a public hearing and any referendum. Board members emphasized the need to avoid overly broad provisions that might be legally vulnerable and to consider operational impacts on the police department.
Why it matters: policy updates affect how the town runs operations, schedules events and enforces public‑safety rules; a loitering ordinance could change enforcement options and require public input before adoption.
What’s next: Staff will reconcile the nepotism draft with the personnel manual, return with a standardized vaping/smoking policy, and collaborate with the chief to refine the proposed loitering ordinance prior to public hearings. The Town Hall use policy took effect May 2026.
