Boothbay selectmen voted unanimously Oct. 9 to continue a joint economic development relationship with Boothbay Harbor for another year. Selectmen met with their Boothbay Harbor counterparts to discuss continuing the partnership agreement. In 2015, the Joint Economic Development Committee was created to spur economic growth. In the committee’s first two years, the towns contributed $25,000 each. Last year, the committee requested $18,000 from each town. In March, JEDC members also wanted municipal officials to consider if it should morph into a nonprofit to serve as a conduit between the towns and community projects. 

“We spoke about our concerns about the possibility of hiring staff. They were not overbearing about it so our members decided we should enter into a new agreement,” Town Manager Dan Bryer reported about the joint selectmen’s meeting. The new agreement would clarify roles and responsibilities for enhancing economic growth and expand the history of both towns working in unison.

Boothbay Harbor will consider signing the new agreement during their Oct. 15 meeting.

In other action, the board unanimously approved new general assistance guidelines for the next 12 months. A public hearing was scheduled to review proposed guidelines submitted by the Maine Municipal Association for financial assistance for housing, food and heating subsidies for individuals or families on low incomes. No one attended the hearing.

Selectmen approved the guidelines without any amendments. Each year, municipalities consider new state guidelines based on the number of people in the household. For Lincoln County, the MMA proposed maximum guidelines of $849 for a one-person household. The maximums for multiple-person households were $869 for two, $1,038 for three, $1,326 for four, $1,541 for five and $1,616 for six.

The new guidelines began Oct. 1 and run through Sept. 30, 2020. The town requests $6,000 per year from taxpayers for general assistance. Bryer reported the town rarely spends the entire amount as most applicants seek support from Boothbay Region Community Resource Council, which provides residents with financial assistance for food, shelter and heat. 

“We are very fortunate to have something like the BRCRC in our community. It’s really a big benefit to the towns and our people,” Selectman Steve Lewis said.

Bryer praised recent community efforts to prepare Clifford Park for an expansion. He recounted how earlier in the week Pat Farrin & Sons  and Justin Wood worked on the park’s back lot in preparation for a possible federal grant. Bryer reported he is seeking Sebago Technics’ help in writing the federal Land and Water Grant requesting $500,000. “This is a competitive process and we want to make sure it’s done right,” he said.

The grant deadline is Nov. 22. Selectman Kristina Ford asked if the proposal included a dog park, as the 2015 proposal had. Bryer responded the dog park is still being discussed, but may end up in another location. “When we first proposed the concept, the dog park was by far the most popular aspect, by a long way,” he said. “But there are concerns about putting it close to a playground and it’s also in the watershed. There will probably be a dog park eventually, I’m just not sure where it would be.”

The board welcomed a new recording secretary. Sarah Wade began her duties during the meeting. She will record minutes for selectmen, planning board and board of appeals. The town is also looking for a few more faces to fill other vacancies. The planning board is down two members and the appeals board has one vacancy. 

Selectmen meet next at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 in the municipal building's conference room.