Boothbay Harbor selectmen heard updates June 8 about the town’s Rural Infrastructure Strengths Evaluation (RISE) from Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Elyse Oliver.  

 

Last year, RCAP Solutions approached Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission about conducting an economic development strategy for county municipalities, similar to what LCRPC completed in towns in Massachusetts and Vermont. Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor were chosen for the RISE pilot program. This is separate from Boothbay Harbor’s Comprehensive Plan with VHB.  

 

Oliver explained that RISE’s goal is to identify the strengths of rural communities and craft economic development strategies around them. RISE's core tenets are: 1) investing in what people care about, and 2) the belief that everyone is an economic developer, whether it's the people maintaining community roads or providing medical care.  

 

Phase 1, understanding what the available municipal services are, and phase 2, compiling community feedback on local strengths, are complete.  

 

According to a meeting handout, over 110 assets were identified and broken into eight categories: natural, cultural, social (mutual aid, business owners, generational ties, etc.), individual (digital literacy, artists, educators, etc.), intellectual (marine expertise, Bigelow Labs, entrepreneurs, etc.), built (regional service hub, footbridge restorations, affordable housing pilot, etc.), political and financial.  

 

Part of phase 2 was a parking inventory, as parking was identified as a high need in downtown Boothbay Harbor. Preliminary recommendations were to conduct a parking utilization study to find out occupancy rates and duration of stays, improve digital communications and marketing, create incentives for alternative visitor transportation and institute an annual parking cost cap.  

 

Phase 3 is in progress and focuses on identifying key values and how to move forward with implementation. In a workshop earlier this month, making both towns premier “blue economy” hubs in Maine, year-round tourism supporting year-round community, and arts and youth services were highlighted as key visions. There will be another workshop on feasibility and prioritization on Thursday, June 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the town hall.  

 

In other business, selectmen approved the adoption of the Lincoln County Hazard Mitigation Plan. They also unanimously approved an updated fee schedule. The non-resident fee for notary public is $5, with an extra dollar for each page. The concealed weapons permit is $50 for new and $35 for renewal. RV parking will be $5 per hour.  

 

Daniel Feeney was named the interim code enforcement officer/licensed plumbing inspector.

 

The town office will be closed June 19 for Juneteenth, and at noon June 24 for Windjammer Days.