Dear Editor:

I have attended nearly all the advisory board, planning board and select board meetings for many months and have come to my own conclusions as to how the zoning changes are being presented to the Boothbay Harbor residents in warrant articles. I am especially concerned about the way the height increase is being presented.

I have been viewing the BRTV videos. On Feb. 11, at the SB Public Hearing, our PB Chairman stated that the increase to 35-feet on the east side is consistent with the state requirement in Shoreland zoning. I noted that Selectman Mike Tomko asked the chairman, “You didn't mean to say that it's state requirement, did you? I think you meant to say it's allowed by the state.” I am pleased to see that someone was paying attention.

At the Feb. 20 SB workshop, the Select Board voted to keep the height increase separate from the rest of the zoning changes, in order to give the voters a choice.

Now if you watch the Feb. 25 select board meeting you will see Town Attorney Cunningham presented a different version of how the warrants could be presented. What disturbed me was that it seems that the developer's attorney, Bill Logan, had conferred with Cunningham between the two meetings. It seems to me that this new information should have been available to the Selectmen in time for them to review and analyze the new proposals. From what I have heard, that information was given to the selectmen only 15 minutes before the Feb. 25 meeting at which time they were required to cast their vote.

Our right to vote for or against the height increase separately was denied. That's why I have to vote no on #3.

Jean McKay

Boothbay Harbor