During an Aug. 10 Boothbay Harbor selectboard meeting, it was announced that Selectman Mark Gimbel is resigning due to personal reasons. Gimbel was reelected to his three-year seat in May. On Thursday, Aug. 13, Gimbel clarified that his resignation was because of a health issue.

The board floated hosting a special election, which would cost between $1,400 and $1,800 and occur in January due to advertising and absentee ballot notice requirements, or waiting until May, when another selectman seat was up for re-election. Members unanimously agreed to wait. Selectman Alyssa Allen raised creating a standard procedure for how unexpired terms should be filled.

The board unanimously appointed Denise Griffin to a three-year term on the appeals board.

The $10,375 purchase of a 100-foot hose for the fire department was approved. This item was budgeted, but since it was over $10,000, it had to go before the selectboard, said Chair Mike Tomko. The board also approved paying CAI Technologies $29,750 for tax map conversion and Geographic Information System internet services. The work focused on creating a digital tax map to increase accessibility for homeowners, realtors and utilities.

In other business, community members expressed disapproval with conduct during the July 13 meeting's public forum. As reported in the Register, Joe and Jill Doyle asked for Tomko's resignation or recusal, alleging there was an inappropriate meeting at the town office between Tomko, Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation lawyer Anthony Muri and Code Enforcement Officer Dan Feeney. 

Bob McKay cited the public participation guidelines printed at the bottom of each agenda, which says there should not be debate between members of the public, or between the public and the board. Additionally, no comments should embarrass or attack an individual or board member. He said the disregard for the rules and the way the matter was handled were an embarrassment, but what was more embarrassing was that board members did not step in.

"You know what the rules are, but it wasn't stopped. It went way out of hand," he said.

Tom Minerich also pointed to the rule that the content of public comments should be limited to agenda items, saying that the July 13 meeting should not be discussed further. 

In other business, Boothbay Harbor Police Department (BHPD) is collecting speed limit data using the Watchdog System, a portable radar unit temporarily placed along roadways to measure vehicle speeds, traffic volume and travel patterns. The system does not record drivers, license plate numbers, photographs, or videos, said Town Manager Julia Latter. BHPD Chief Doug Snyder will present the data at a September selectmen's meeting.

Boothbay Harbor's Boston Post Cane recipient Barclay Shepard, who held the title of the town's oldest resident since 2024, has died at 100. New applicants will be accepted at the end of September.

"Barclay Shepard was a great member of the community, an incredible life, all kinds of experiences, full of generosity and full of kindness to others. So we celebrate his life. We mourn not having him as part of the community," said Tomko.

VHB has sent a 260-page first draft of the town's comprehensive plan to committee members, the selectboard and the planning board. The third public workshop for community feedback is Oct. 7. A proposed comp plan is expected to be ready for a town vote in February.

Kate Sullivan said the plans to honor the 125th anniversary of the Boothbay Harbor Footbridge on Saturday, Oct. 24 are moving forward. Event details are being ironed out, but many community organizations have agreed to host special events or promotions leading up to the celebration. A footbridge-themed scavenger hunt has been floated. The town is setting aside funds for a commemorative tree that would also acknowledge America's 250th birthday.

Full recording is on BRTV’s Facebook page.