ANDOVER — Comprehensive Plan Committee Chairwoman Anna Camire has asked selectmen to find more volunteers to serve on the committee.
Andover hasn’t had a comprehensive plan update since 1992.
She also pleaded with the board to attend the committee meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23, in the Town Hall. She said John Maloney will attend to advise the committee on how to proceed. Maloney is the senior land use planner with the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments in Auburn.
“We need more people on the committee, so I’m asking you to find me more people,” Camire said. “I’m really begging you. Find somebody.
“We’re lucky if we have two people for every meeting,” she said. “John Maloney from AVCOG is coming up here, so I would really appreciate it if you would be there . . . I don’t want him to show up for two people.”
Selectman Jane C. Rich shared Camire’s frustration from Rich’s past municipal work for Andover.
“I was at it the last time they tried to get the comp plan going,” Rich said. “It’s a great project. It’s so needed. I mean, the last time we did it was 1992. It’s very outdated, so if the town ever wanted to apply for grants, we can’t.”
Selectman Keith Farrington said he recalls that selectmen asked for volunteers for the committee at least two town meetings.
Camire said the committee initially met once a week, but now they meet every other week.
“We don’t even know if we’re on the right track, but we think we are,” she said. “That’s why John offered to come up. We’ve done stuff, but we need more help, and I’m willing to stay with it.”
“Great, that’s what we need,” Rich said. “The last time we started to get a comprehensive plan committee together, it fell apart.”
Farrington advised Camire to have a variety of people on the committee.
In other business, Camire also asked selectmen if the Fans of Andover Facebook site is a municipally operated site.
Selectmen told her that it isn’t run by the town. Camire said she asked because she’s seen incorrect information on the site.
Matt Towle of the Silver Lake Camp Owners Association and Ellis Pond Watershed Committee, told selectmen the association is are inviting Andover residents to Family Fun Night on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Mary’s Chapel.
“We want to say thank you to the citizens of Andover for their generous support of the Ellis Pond Watershed Committee,” Towle said.
He said there will be facepainting and popcorn and a movie shown outside the church, but if the weather is bad, it will be held inside the church.
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