BRUNSWICK

State Rep. Matthea Daughtry, D-Brunswick, this week introduced a bill that would require local representation on the agency that is redeveloping the town’s former naval air base.

If it becomes law, Daughtry’s bill — LD 1549, “An Act to Protect Local Input in Economic Development and Redevelopment Efforts” — would ensure that Brunswick, Topsham and other municipalities with a direct relationship to the former base would also be able to voice their concerns or preferences regarding how it is redeveloped.

Several other legislators have joined Daughtry in support of the bill, including Reps. Andrew Mason, D–Topsham, Peter Kent, D–Bath, Jennifer DeChant, D–Bath, and Sara Gideon, D–Freeport.

“We are asking the Legislature to recognize that the fates of Brunswick, Topsham, Bath, Freeport, West Bath, Harpswell and Brunswick Landing are intertwined and that these communities need a voice at the MRRA table,” Daughtry said. “Those towns should have a say in how the base is redeveloped, because it serves a wider audience than just Brunswick-Topsham.”

Gov. Paul LePage decides who serves on the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority’s 11-member Board of Trustees. Ten seats are open to revolving appointment on staggered three-year-term.

Only one seat is permanent and occupied by a state departmental commissioner;  at present it is filled by George Gervais, chief of the Department of Economic and Community Development.

Technically, no prohibition of residency exists. Five of the current board members live or work in Brunswick, and three others live in Harpswell, Woolwich and Freeport. LePage two weeks ago nominated Topsham attorney and Harpswell resident John Moncure to remain on the board; additionally, John Peters — nominated to replace current trustee Don Hudson from Arrowsic — is a Harpswell resident.

However, neither is there a requirement — which is what Daughtry and the others hope to change.

What’s more, the legislators and town officials and want to be able to choose their own nominees, rather than rely solely on cabinet recommendations.

Brunswick municipal officials also have been lobbying the governor to appoint a general resident to the board. For several weeks town councilors have worked to compile a list of potential nominees for LePage’s consideration when the next seat — occupied by Brunswick’s Steven Weems — comes open in March. 

“In recent months, both Brunswick and Topsham have made great efforts to work together to grow the regional economy and responsibly redevelop Brunswick Landing,” Mason said, in a statement released Friday.

Recently, both towns and MRRA have worked to improve relations and comunication. A community advisory board was formed to keep townspeople up to date on Brunswick Landing activities, although it has met only once in the past three months. 

Under current statute, neither town — or any of the surrounding communities — is allowed a  representative from the general public on the MRRA board of directors in spite of the critical importance of Brunswick Landing to the towns’ economic future.

“This is the time we need to put our shoulders to the wheel, because I want to see my friends be able to stay here and raise their kids here,” Daughtry added. “We need to have an economy that will allow it to happen, and the best way to do that is to start talking right now. This bill is really just an effort to get people to work together.”