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Berwick board approves targeted sidewalk spraying; officials to post map and SDS
Summary
Select Board voted to resume targeted vegetation spraying on sidewalks and hardscapes, with conditions that the town post a colored map, treatment dates and the chemical's SDS; residents had raised concerns about a Facebook-only notice and pollinator impacts.
The Berwick Select Board on July 7 authorized the town to resume targeted vegetation spraying on sidewalks and hardscape areas, contingent on staff posting a colored treatment map, the chemical safety data sheet (SDS) and scheduled treatment dates online.
Town Manager Arthur told the board he had requested information from Northeast Vegetation and Mosquito Control, the contractor the town has used since 2022, and described the application as "a water based, nontoxic chemical that we use" applied as targeted spot treatments to cracks and street-edge hardscape. Several residents had expressed concern after seeing a Facebook notice described as "town-wide spraying," and urged clearer advance notice and details on the product and application method.
During discussion a board member stated the product is glyphosate. Board members agreed to require that staff post the SDS and a legend for the colored map so residents can see precisely which sidewalks and edges are scheduled for treatment. The board also asked staff to post treatment dates "so that way people are so worried about it and wanna keep their dogs in or whatever."
Arthur and other members emphasized the contractor's stated approach is handheld, spot applications from a cart or small sprayer along the sidewalk edges rather than broadcast aerial or broadcast spraying of lawns and gardens. The board's approval requires confirmation that the field practice matches the contractor's description and that the posted materials clearly identify treated areas.
The board did not set a ban or moratorium; the action authorizes continuation of the town's established sidewalk-edge treatment program with new disclosure steps and an explicit commitment to targeted applications only.
