Not all the figures are in, but Boothbay selectmen took a sneak peak Jan. 23 at some municipal budget figures for next year. Town Manager Dan Bryer is still waiting on a few figures, but he provided selectmen what he had accumulated for 2019 as $1,820,251.97. 2018’s municipal budget was $2,099,362.52. Bryer reported he will present the entire first draft in two weeks.

In other action, Selectman Kristina Ford will seek input from Boothbay Harbor about an informational survey on broadband service within the peninsula. The two towns are currently developing a committee to review local needs for enhanced internet service. Ford spearheaded an effort which received a $7,500 Maine Community Foundation grant to develop a strategy for developing a committee. She is also working with Island Institute and Lincoln County Region Planning Commission representatives on a survey gauging peninsula needs for broadband internet. The survey will seek responses from local businesses and residents in Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor.

Ford told her fellow selectmen she expects a total of four surveys measuring local opinions for enhanced internet access. Selectman Mike Tomacelli will help Ford select the most appropriate survey questions. She will also attend Boothbay Harbor selectmen’s Jan. 28 meeting seeking their input and assistance. “The survey will identify what parts of the community want or need broadband. So I need another set of eyes to help select the right questions and make sure it’s not too lengthy,” Ford said.

The board also unanimously approved a wharves and weirs application for Mark and Ann Sullivan at their 563 West Side Road, Barters Island property. The application already received Department of Environmental Protection, Army Corps of Engineers, planning board and local harbor master’s  approval. Selectmen discussed whether or not such an application needed planning board approval after receiving DEP’s and Army Corps of Engineers’ approval. “In my time on the planning board we never denied one, so I’m not sure why it has to go before both the planning board and board of selectmen. It seems like a waste of time,” Tomacelli said.

Selectmen also began a new practice of hearing how the planning board ruled on applications. Bryer reported the planning board on Jan. 16 approved three of four applications. Last month, Ford suggested to Bryer he  include planning board updates at future selectmen’s meeting. “The planning board is where all the action is and things are changing all the time,” Ford said. “So I thought an update would keep us in the loop, and not have that deer in the headlight look when asked about a decision.”

Bryer also took time to highlight an outstanding job in the past year by the town’s emergency management agency director Scott Campbell. In late October 2017, the region was hit by a devastating storm, according to Bryer’s recollection. Campbell spent hours cataloging the damage by recording local public work crews' clean-up efforts. In 2018, Boothbay recouped “a significant amount of state and federal emergency management relief funds” due to Campbell’s efforts. “I don’t have the exact figures, but it’s easily in the tens of thousands of dollars. Scott definitely went above and beyond what the job requires and I thought he should be recognized for it,” Bryer said.

Selectmen meet next at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 in the municipal conference room.