Boothbay Harbor resident Ken Fitch presented a letter to selectmen Monday as a representative of a group called Friends of the Harbor. Fitch explained the letter outlines the concern he said a great deal of residents have about possible zoning changes to the east side of the harbor. Though Friends of the Harbor understands nothing is before the board, the group anticipates in a short time, something will be, he said.

"This may seem premature coming to you now, but we recognize that the planning forward is going to be in your hands. We feel it's at that point that we need to be very, very careful on how we educate the community before any warrants are put forward to the town for a vote. There's a lot of people in this town that are really quite ignorant of what's going on. Perhaps it's because they don't care, perhaps they don't understand it."

Fitch used the marijuana issues and the way the board brought them to the public through a series of educational workshops as an example of the process zoning changes should have. Fitch also said the concerns and suggestions Friends of the Harbor raised are meant in no way as disrespect toward anyone, particularly town officials.

"But there is a responsibility that … whatever we do, we need to move forward with something that's going to be enduring, not something that's going to be a patch …"

Bill Royall approached the board with a request to place a sculpture in Whale Park to add to the Boothbay Harbor Sculpture Trail. He was unsure where the sculpture will go, but with businesses giving a home to 18 sculptures already, he wanted to reach out to the town.

"It does not require any town funds – no taxpayer dollars, really no Chamber dollars. It's privately funded and all we need is permission to put one in the town park."

Board Chair Wendy Wolf said a decision could not be made on the spot. The board suggested Royall work with Town Manager Tom Woodin on the specifics of the sculpture and where it would ideally sit in the park.

In other board news, four measures were approved unanimously: the 2018-2019 fee schedule, personal property abatements, unspent account balances to be carried forward, and municipal appointments.

The fee schedule for 2018-2019 is identical to this past fiscal year, said Woodin, with none of the department heads recommending any changes. The unspent account balances to be carried forward are from three accounts: the economic development fund ($16,711), capital improvement fund ($8,472), and professional services/town planner ($8,776).

Municipal appointments which have been reapplied for include Tom Churchill for the planning board, Lawrence Rebel for board of appeals, James Powers for port committee, and Gary Farnham for refuse district. Two new applications included Richard Burt for board of appeals and Rosemary Bourette for board of appeals as an alternate.

Said Woodin, "That leaves us with only a couple openings out there and that is: second alternate on the board of appeals, both alternates on the port committee, and one full-time position vacant on the budget committee. Other than that, we're at full staff."

Financial officer Julia Latter said the town’s revenue and expenses, year to date, total $7,873,243 and $7,702,772, respectively. The total accounts payable are $136,467.53 and the bank balance is $2,425,213.65.

Liquor licenses were approved for Fisherman's Wharf Inn and Mystic Mermaid. Woodin announced the town office will be closed Friday, June 29 to close out the town books and prepare for the yearly audit which begins on Thursday, July 5.