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Select Board approves school warrants and ballot clerks, discusses data centers and other town business
Summary
The board approved school budget warrants including an SRRF grant for HVAC work, appointed ballot clerks for the June 9 vote, accepted general warrants, and discussed community resilience grant plans, chestnut seedling planting, revaluation updates and concerns about AI data centers.
The North Berwick Select Board handled several administrative and policy items May 19, approving warrants and ballot clerk appointments, and continuing discussions on data centers, revaluation and community grants.
Dwayne Morin reviewed a $1.2 million SRRF grant warrant intended to update the HVAC system at Noble Intermediate School and said other school warrants were ready to go to the June 9 ballot. The board approved the warrants to go to vote and appointed ballot clerks (Susan Caler, Linda Pedersen, Brenda Gagne, Nancy Dennett, Stephanie Camire Griffin and Debra Bodwell). Selectperson Wendy Cowan moved to approve the warrants; Selectperson Jonathan Hall seconded. Vote: 5-0.
The board also reviewed general warrants for May 12 ($28,131.16) and May 19 ($766,311.40) and moved to accept them; the vote was recorded as 4-0.
On unfinished business, staff reported that a third-party assessor is continuing a review of the Pratt & Whitney assessment with results expected the first week of June, and that KRT’s revaluation work is proceeding without major issues. The board discussed a proposal to plant American chestnut seedlings on town property; a local resident, Bill Hills, offered to care for seedlings and staff said the site would need clearing and mowing before planting next year.
Selectperson Rebecca Reed reopened a prior discussion about AI data centers. Staff cited significant energy use, potential noise impacts and water demands; Morin noted a federal requirement that centers be self-sufficient for energy and that water be recirculated rather than discharged. He also referenced tax-relief estimates reported for other proposals (citing Sanford as an example) and the board agreed to continue work on defining data centers and possible ordinance language.
The board was reminded that Superintendent Audra Beauvais will present the school budget at the next meeting and that a Moving Maine representative will attend June 16 to discuss transportation barriers in York County municipalities.
The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
