Portsmouth Herald News - Water district postpones vote on proposed Nestle deal

Opponents gather outside district offices

KKW Superintendent Norm Labbe (seated, right) discusses his reasons for recommending a delay in the Nestle vote while Trustees Tom Oliver, Richard Littlefield and Jim Burrows (seated, left to right) listen. Officials allowed additional attendees to watch from an adjoining room.

Opponents gather outside district offices

KKW Superintendent Norm Labbe (seated, right) discusses his reasons for recommending a delay in the Nestle vote while Trustees Tom Oliver, Richard Littlefield and Jim Burrows (seated, left to right) listen. Officials allowed additional attendees to watch from an adjoining room.

By Daniel Limmer

KENNEBUNK — About 75 activists from the area and around the state, mingled with news media and rallied on the lawn of the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells Water district offices Wednesday afternoon. The relatively calm rally was only the preamble to the fireworks that followed.

As the water district trustees meeting was about to begin, officials allowed the media to enter the room. They announced only five additional people would be allowed in the room. Those standing by the door quickly jockeyed for position, leaving organizers, including Jamilla El-Shafei, blocked from the meeting.

Officials allowed about 20 more individuals into the foyer outside the meeting room. Scheduled for discussion later in the meeting, the Nestle vote was moved to the first item on the agenda. The trustees listened to a prepared statement by Norm Labbe before quickly and unanimously voting to postpone the vote to July 30.

During the initial stages of the meeting, protesters chanted outside the building and banged on windows to show disapproval over their exclusion.

Nestle’s Poland Spring Resource Manager, Tom Brennan, was in the room but did not comment and left after the vote was postponed. Noah Keteyian from the communications management firm Barton and Gingold was present at the rally speaking to members of the press on behalf of Nestle.

Joe Hardy of Wells spoke after the meeting. "They’re just making enemies by excluding us today. It will just make people angry," he said. Hardy said requests by trustees to send letters and emails circumvents an open process and won’t adequately address concerns.

Labbe said the additional time will allow factual information to be conveyed.

El-Shafei, excluded from the meeting but able to address the trustees from outside the door said the fight is not over.

"We’ll have a meeting at my house in July and prepare for the next (trustee’s) meeting," she said. She said efforts are underway to continue what she calls "grassroots democracy" as well as potential legal challenges to the Nestle deal.

The next water district trustee’s meeting will be held on July 30. The location will be announced.

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