Boothbay selectmen signed a one-year lease with the Boothbay Region Community Resources Council to use the town’s public lot.

The agreement paves the way for the Woodchucks, a group of senior citizen woodsmen who provide low-income families with firewood, access to the town’s wood lot. The Woodchucks have used the .79-acre lot to cut and store firewood for the past three years.

As the Woodchucks informal membership increased, town officials became worried about potential legal liability issues. Boothbay officials wanted to enter into a formal agreement this year, but couldn’t, due to the Woodchucks’ informal status.

With no formal organization, the town had no one to enter into a legal agreement with. But that changed last month when the BRCRC agreed to serve as the Woodchucks legal representative. The Woodchucks agreed to join the BRCRC as one of the organization’s community service programs. This allowed the town to reach an agreement for the Woodchucks continued use of the property.

Town Manager James Chaousis said the lease protects everybody’s legal interests.

“This is everything we were looking for,” Chaousis said. “The lease requires the Woodchucks to do everything expected of a property owner, and it also has an insurance and indemnification clause, which is the part we really wanted.”

The lease is for $1 a year and it includes an automatic renewal clause if the town doesn’t receive any complaints.

In other action, the selectmen are also making progress toward  creating closer ties with the town of Boothbay Harbor and the community school district. Chaousis announced the second joint economic development meeting with Boothbay Harbor selectmen is scheduled for 6 p.m. on  Tuesday, Sept. 23 in the municipal building.

The first meeting held last month set the parameters for the towns working together. Selectmen Steven Lewis said the first meeting was a “great beginning” and he felt the towns working together was a a positive direction for the entire community.

“After the meeting, I got the vibe they’re just as excited as we are,” Lewis said.

The selectmen have also made progress in setting up a meeting with school officials to discuss the charter. Lewis met with Superintendent of Schools Eileen King who indicated the school committee and trustees were interested in holding a joint meeting. Lewis, who is the chairman of the Boothbay selectmen, said he had a good conversation with King and the two exchanged ideas about making the charter better.

“I believe what is going to happen is that a committee is going to be put together to open up and look at the charter,” Lewis said. “If we act as a unified body then that’ll make it a lot easier for the Legislature to change the law.”

Lewis envisions a joint committee of selectmen, town managers, school administrators, and Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor school committee and trustee representatives. The Boothbay selectmen are interested in changing the charter over recent disagreements with the CSD over the adoption of a pre-Kindergarten program and construction of a tennis facility.

Lewis expects the joint meeting to happen within the month.

If the joint committee recommends changing the charter, voters in Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor would need to approve the proposal at a town meeting. The changes would then be sent to the legislature to amend or replace “The Special and Private Law,” which formed the community school district.

The selectmen will meet next at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24 in the municipal room.