After more than 20 years, Riverfront Committee to disband

4 years ago

HOULTON, Maine — Houlton Town Council voted Monday to formally disband one of the town’s most celebrated organizations — the adhoc group known as “The Riverfront Committee.” The move comes following the advice of its chairman and founder, Bob Anderson, who announced his resignation. 

 

In a letter to the town of Houlton, Anderson explained that the original task given to the committee had been completed and that his current state of health dictated that he should resign. 

“I have served far longer than I should have served … a new face would be welcomed,” he wrote in his letter of resignation. He also recommended that the town should appoint a new committee or reappoint the current committee to act as stewards of the developed park. 

Several members of the council took the time to reflect on the tremendous public service provided by Anderson as chairman of the Riverfront Committee. 

“He was really a great man,” said councilor Edward Lake. “Once he did something, it was done to perfection. That’s really something to be said.” 

“I think the town will be forever grateful for this completely volunteer organization,” said Sue Tortello, another member of the council. “They met countless times over many, many years, and looked at what they accomplished. There’s no way that you could replicate that.” 

Tortello also suggested that Anderson be nominated for Houlton’s inaugural 2020 Spirit of the Year Foundation Tribute for outstanding community service. 

Founded in 1999, the Riverfront Committee was created with the task of cleaning the western side of the Meduxnekeag River, in between the North Street bridge and the Highland Avenue bridge, along with developing the land there. 

After succeeding in raising more than $1 million for development, the committee created the Gateway Crossing footbridge, now a signature icon of Houlton’s downtown, connecting it with Riverfront Park and a walking trail along the Meduxnekeag.

 More recent additions to the park include restrooms and complimentary Wi-Fi service. 

The walking trail was made with the assistance of the Aaron A. and Maria H. Putnam Family Charitable Trust, which assisted in the donation of the land for the trail. 

Anderson said in his resignation letter that there needed to be discussion with Putnam Trust about if and how the trail extension operations should be integrated with Riverfront Park. 

Anderson also wrote that the committee had paid all of its bills and had a remaining balance of $7,629.77, money which now belongs to the town. The council indicated that it would like to continue to have an advisory committee for the park, the details of which to be discussed at a later meeting.