Dear Editor:

If you didn’t otherwise view the May 8, 2023 Boothbay Harbor Selectboard meeting you should check it out on boothbaytv.org’s website or their Facebook page. What did you miss? The real Mike Tomko, demonstrating a disgusting form of gamesmanship to incite Selectboard and Planning Board members to support, at all costs, the Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation’s desire to obtain permitting to install docks. He vilified the “abutters” who exercised due process and won a recent appeal, speculating on what they might or might not do with a new permit attempt and stated that “I personally don’t feel that it should be appealed.” He described speaking to the Planning Board chair that day (is this ex parte communication?) about an expedited time frame should a new permit be requested and he even speculated on what the planning board decision might be.

“We have a dockage crisis” so claimed a BHWP board member. Carter’s Wharf is closed and the lobstermen have no place to dock in the harbor. Interesting that we have a crisis as the work at Carter’s Wharf is no surprise and has been planned for months. There was no data offered to support the claim just exasperation and ranting at town officials for doing nothing to support the BHWP (aka lobstermen).

It gets even better as former Selectboard member, Denise Griffin, demanded every board member raise their hand and demonstrate that they agreed with what Mike (Tomko) said and commit to doing everything possible to help the park (aka lobstermen) before the next board meeting stating the town looks business unfriendly – you have to do something about that. She further demanded – “are there hands there or is there only one person (Tomko) committed to the lobstermen?”

So there you have it - public bullying at its finest. If you support the BHWP you are committed to lobstermen. If you don’t support the BHWP then you don’t support lobstermen. Pretty simple stuff. Of course, those speaking didn’t get too close to any facts pertaining to regulations, permitting, land ordinances, code enforcement and simply following the law.

Patty Minerich

Boothbay Harbor