Shortly before the Joint Economic Development Committee began its meeting May 15, Co-Chair Wendy Wolf approached Boothbay Region Television cameraman and, after citing difficulty for some members to speak candidly due to live streaming, asked him to leave.

In a statement, Wolf said: “"As an ad hoc committee appointed by the Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay Select Boards, the JEDC is committed to transparency and public accountability. Our meeting times are posted on the town website, members of the public frequently come to our meetings, and a Register reporter regularly attends and submits stories on the committee’s discussions.

“As an elected official, I know BRTV has the right to record and broadcast the meeting under the Freedom of Access Act, provided it does not interfere with the orderly conduct of the proceedings. However, I requested that BRTV defer broadcasting this meeting because it was clear that adding live streaming made some of our volunteer committee members, who are not familiar with the law, uncomfortable. Moving forward, the JEDC will spend some time educating our volunteer members about the law and hope it won’t discourage attendance and participation if BRTV attends, records and broadcasts future meetings.”

Members began to take their seats, and Boothbay Harbor member Mike Tomko, who is also secretary for the BRTV board, asked why BRTV was being asked to leave.

Wolf responded, "I have people who have said 'I can't speak candidly about some of the issues going on here right now because, you know, being a televised selectmen's meeting and planning board is one thing, but this is an ad hoc, town subcommittee.' I do think there is a time and place to be able to have kind of a freewheeling discussion where people are not thinking 'Oh, jeez, is this what we're going to do?' I asked if they would please not record."

"I understand that argument and I understand the other one,” said Tomko. “It's just – it makes my skin crawl. It makes me feel like somewhere, somehow, someone will say you're hiding things.”

Wolf said, "Anyone can come to these meetings, but you know what? If you want us to try and make progress on this – we've lost several people that were going to be here tonight."

The meeting commenced after BRTV left the YMCA conference room.

In committee business, Wolf said she checked with the state, and Boothbay Region Economic Development Committee has stayed alive as a state nonprofit. BREDCo is one of the ideas JEDC members have been talking about as a vehicle for implementing the current regional economic master plan.

Tomko reported he spoke with Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission’s Mary Ellen Barnes on the possibility of an economic development entity. Tomko wanted to know what it would look like, what it could accomplish and if it would succeed in implementing some of the master plan. He said Barnes suggested looking into the Community Development Block Grant Program, but also warned that a municipality or economic agency cannot obtain a CDBG grant.

"But a business can … So – sort of,” said Tomko. He explained, there are are constraints. "It's applicable, but in a very narrow amount … It's not just a grant you can use to spend in a number of different ways. There are certain criteria."

Tomko said a decision would need to be made about which towns the entity would serve: Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor or all four towns.

Tomko said the entity would promote economic development including increasing year-round employment opportunities and enhancing quality of life.

"When? The report basically says 'Now. Do it,'" said Tomko. "We've got goals, now someone needs to be accountable."

The where could be a town office, the Chamber, or "amorphously in the ether" until it develops further, said Tomko.

How is also difficult, he continued, as there would need to be membership. The task force has been unsure what the board's makeup should be.

"The why? We know why. We need it. It strengthens community, it's economic development for the region, Tomko said.

Wolf said the key will be in how to move the plan forward. When the economic development agreement was drafted, it said the addition of a staff person, establishment of an economic authority, joint funding, and marketing actions which would help the plan forward might come into play. Wolf said these points would all be vital to bring up at the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor selectmen's workshop on Wednesday, May 23, so the best and most feasible plan can be discussed.

"I feel the JEDC has done what we were asked to do. We have developed and worked with the consultants and made a plan."

Wolf said as far as BREDCo goes, there has been only talk for the past four months without much direction on how the nonprofit can be used, if at all. She said her commitment to the people of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor for putting up $40,000 for the economic study dictates that action be taken.

Boothbay Harbor member Jon Dunsford said he likes all the ideas, but if a serious movement to fix some of the region’s issues is going to get off the ground, it will be an actual, physical project.

"It's no person, it's no group, it's no entity – (it’s) somebody from some bank, some engineer, some architect, some builder, some smart people, and a couple of us volunteers … It may only be a duplex by Habitat on somebody's house, but it's going to be a project,” said Dunsford.

Wolf made clear the basic message for the May 23 meeting was going to be implementation.

Said Wolf, "Here's the plan. The JEDC has delivered what you asked. We're here to talk about what's in this paragraph of 'We are the people responsible with talking about how to implement this.'"