Boothbay Harbor selectmen unanimously approved the 2020-2023 labor agreement with the town's administrative services unit Nov. 23. In a statement from the board as its lead in contract negotiations, Selectman Denise Griffin acknowledged the importance and hard work of town personnel:

“We are very pleased to have concluded negotiations and reached a new three-year agreement with our administrative employees. I want to thank all the employees for their cooperation in reaching the agreement. (It) provides for fair and market wage increases (and) includes structural changes to our healthcare plan while remaining favorable to our employees in terms of coverage deductibles and rates especially when compared to those of the private sector and our area including those benefits provided by Lincoln County. We believe the new agreement is fair to both our values and hardworking employees and fair to our citizens and taxpayers alike.”

Still ongoing are negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement at Boothbay Harbor Police Department.

Also Nov. 23, selectmen decided to keep meeting via Zoom for now. Selectman Wendy Wolf cited Maine’s rising COVID-19 cases as a sign stricter precautions are appropriate for public health. “My inclination is because (cases are) much higher than … in the spring, I feel it might be prudent until we see a decrease in case rates to go back into Zoom meetings once again rather than having everybody come here in person in an interior space for a relatively longer period of time.”

Chair Mike Tomko noted Code Enforcement Officer Geoff Smith’s preference for completely online meetings rather than half in-person, half virtual. Smith said the planning board and appeals board has been meeting via Zoom and also find it better to meet online-only. Griffin and Vice-chair Tricia Warren agreed.

Said Wolf, “And that will of course allow us to continue to have the public participate via Zoom and the staff participate and actually converse without masks on.”

The board approved Todd and Alison Prawer’s waterfront development at 260 Samoset Road. They plan a four-foot by 10-foot landing connecting a four-foot by eight-foot set of stairs that connect to a six-foot by 100-foot pier connecting to a 12-foot by 40-foot seasonal float via a three-foot by 40-foot ramp; the float connects to a four-foot by 40-foot seasonal finger float.

Atlantic Environmental's Tim Forrester, for the applicant, said all required permits have been obtained and there were no comments or complaints from immediate abutters.

“We worked on a plan that would gain them full tide access and raise the outside float in the water so it just barely floats on a 0-tide … We were able to figure out a plan that would position the dock within their riparian lines and … still allow for approximately 66 feet to the inside edge of what would be considered a navigable channel … From our perspective, there is no impediment to navigation.”

Selectmen approved the project with the condition the applicant install reflective material on pilings for safe nighttime navigation.

Griffin commented on a recent Boothbay Register article on the cost of building a new school: “Our share would be about $1.25 million per year … Our current total budget – I just want to remind people – this fiscal year is $8.643 million. So if you add $1.25 million to that, that's an additional 14.5% increase. I just wanted to put that out there.”

The town office will be closed Nov. 26-27 for Thanksgiving break and reopen Monday, Nov. 30.