Boothbay Harbor Planning Board meetings won’t last until midnight anymore, not if Linc Sample has a say in it. April 13, Boothbay Harbor selectmen voted 3-1 to appoint Sample as a second alternate for the planning board, effective immediately until June 30. Mike Tomko cast the opposing vote.

“There's some steps we can take to streamline (the process),” said Sample, referring to the planning board’s long meeting times.

He suggested a person be assigned to each case who can identify checklist items that are not applicable, allowing for more meaningful conversations to occur.  

Tomko shared that the Boothbay planning board has a similar procedure, as well as a 9 p.m. cut-off time.  

The Boothbay Harbor selectboard unanimously approved a grant procedure policy to establish a formal process for the town to serve as a legal applicant or fiscal conduit for grants managed by third-party entities. While the town has acted in this capacity in the past, having a formalized process acts as a safeguard.

Tomko explained, “The problem was the town was going to be potentially liable for those monies if they were not used in the right same way ... So, we've asked Julia (Latter) to go to legal and come back with language that protects the taxpayers, protects the municipality, but still allows us the ability to support worthy projects.”

Another public meeting about the town’s Comprehensive Plan will be held at the Boothbay Harbor town hall on April 23 at 5 p.m. A community survey is on the town website.

Latter said the town will be purchasing a new computer as the livestreaming component of its recording equipment is unreliable. Until installation, the town will not be livestreaming and will upload meeting videos the next day.

In other business, Latter said paving work will begin in the coming weeks on West Street, Howard Street, McClintock Street, Bradley Road, Back Narrows Road and Beath Road. Updates will be on the town website and Facebook. The sidewalk rehabilitation project will begin on April 20, from Red Cup Coffee House to the top of the Boothbay Hill House.  

At Whale Park, the restroom roof is getting repair work. Latter said designs for a new restroom are forthcoming. Progress is also being made in collaboration with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for a park planting plan. Barrett’s Park is getting a spring clean-up with renovations on the restrooms and fence, as well as sprucing up the gazebo.