A consultant is ready to begin his survey of local broadband internet access in Boothbay. On March 27, OmniHeliois owner Tom Myette told selectmen his business analysis of internet availability would focus on residences, commercial users and potential users.

Boothbay contracted with Myette two weeks ago. He will receive $2,000 for 40 hours of work. Myette will survey where residents don’t have access to high speed internet or experience regular outages. For existing commercial users, the survey will tabulate respondents’ experience with current broadband performance, and  existing and future business requirements.

For potential users, Myette will also study how current internet access and a possible broadband upgrade would attract businesses. “We’re talking about software developers, call centers and e-commerce on the common. All those craft businesses are all using Apple Pay and WiFi using their phones. So this would provide them with access without using up their data plans,” he said.

Myette advised, the community’s internet needs vary by season. He said a rainy August night would place more stress on the system than a typical winter night. 

Boothbay is working with Boothbay Harbor in seeking options for expanding high-speed internet and broadband access. Town officials planned inviting Boothbay Harbor to collaborate on the survey. Boothbay sent Boothbay Harbor a synopsis of Myette’s proposal earlier this month, but no one followed up the invitation by attending Boothbay Harbor’s  March 25 selectmen’s meeting.

Boothbay Harbor Selectman Mike Tomko attended Boothbay’s March 27 meeting thinking his town may have missed an opportunity.

“I really don’t know much about this. I came tonight to see what this is all about,” Tomko said. Boothbay selectmen assured him Boothbay Harbor was welcome to join the effort. Boothbay officials recommended Myette meet with Boothbay Harbor selectmen on April 8 and present his survey overview. 

“Kristina (Ford) and I wanted to attend your board meeting, but we couldn’t,” said Boothbay Town Manager Dan Bryer. “We did this to get some traction. We spent several meetings discussing a survey and decided last meeting to hire Tom (Myette). We’d planned on asking Boothbay Harbor to participate and would use grant money to pay for the survey. Or use our selectmen’s contingency fund, if Boothbay Harbor decided against it.”

Once Myette finishes his work, he recommends holding a public hearing, a typical  requirement for receiving more state and federal grants. He believed a hearing would give citizens the best forum for describing their internet needs. Myette will build a framework and spreadsheet so Boothbay can add to his findings. Myette expects to submit his report by May 1.

In other action, selectmen voted 4-0 to approve a $1,000 Ulmer Fund request for Sophia Gudroe of East Boothbay. The scholarship fund was established in 1994 with a $50,000 endowment upon Madelyn Ulmer’s death. The fund now totals over $70,000, and is administered by  selectmen. Ulmer placed two restrictions on the fund: It must be used for advancing a resident’s high school education, and selectmen can’t spend the principal.

Gudroe requested $2,250 and she has raised $500 on her own. She requested a scholarship to pursue a home-based ballet training class in Topsham. 

Selectmen held a public hearing for renewing special amusement permits and liquor license renewals. Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve two requests made by PGC2, LLC. The Boothbay Harbor Country Club and Boothbay Harbor Country Club Wellness Center received special amusement permits and a renewal for Class I, II, III and IV restaurant liquor licenses. DECKSZ, LLC received a Class I, II, III and IV restaurant liquor license for Lobsterman’s Wharf and a special amusements license for Ocean  Point Marina.

Selectmen meet next at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 in the municipal building’s conference room.