Boothbay Harbor selectmen ratified the public works and police department collective bargaining agreements Monday. Selectman Denise Griffin and Town Manager Julia Latter led the town’s negotiations with Teamsters Local Union 340. The agreements run from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023.

Griffin said the selectmen were happy to come to the agreement which brought marketplace wage adjustments for all police and public works personnel. “The other major changes are that employees are going to contribute a bit more to the cost of their family only healthcare insurance. The cost of the single healthcare insurance is still going to be completely free … The town of Boothbay Harbor's health insurance is probably one of the richest health insurance benefit plans that's available any place. So, they're very lucky to have it.”

Latter presented selectmen with a working 10-year capital plan for public works vehicles and equipment which she said will grow to encompass other municipal spending. “such as sidewalks and rehabilitation, infrastructure, building on your priority plan, doing float rotation, maintenance on our piers and wharves that I'd like to incorporate into … a more workable document.”

Selectman Wendy Wolf said she wants to see more broken down in the capital plan for the municipal building such as technology equipment, work stations and the building’s server. “We need to have some candid discussion about … the upgrading of the town office in the routine replacement of things.”

Latter presented the capital plan since budget season draws nearer and she did not want to surprise board members with anything unforeseen. Most of the board’s concerns are already being worked on, she said.

Selectmen approved resident and business owner Ken Rayle's application to the budget committee. Latter said with Bill Coll's resignation, five members now make up the group. Chair Mike Tomko noted his and Wolf’s work alongside Rayle on the Joint Economic Development Committee.

“I found Ken to be insightful and enjoyable. He's a fun guy and he certainly has a lot of experience in business and finance … I for one welcome him onto the budget committee.”

Latter said nomination papers for town officer elections will be available after Jan. 27: They include a one-year term and a three-year term for selectman and three-year terms for Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District School Committee, CSD Board of Trustees, Boothbay Region Water District, BB-BBH Cemetery District, and Boothbay Harbor Sewer District.

The first budget committee meeting is at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6 via Zoom, said Latter.

Vice chair Tricia Warren announced Latter and Casco Bay Advisors' Brian Lippold wrote an RFP for filling out the remaining 2% of the town that has no broadband access. The RFP will go out within the next week and will be active until Jan. 22.  “To date, we've have 163 responses to the (broadband) survey that's been posted,” Warren said.