Each year, the Boothbay Region Land Trust gives a monetary gift to all the towns that house its nature preserves and land. This includes Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport. This year’s gift to Boothbay Harbor was $410.

At the January 14 meeting of the Boothbay Harbor Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Tom Woodin read a letter from Nicholas Ullo, the Executive Director of the Land Trust. Ullo thanked the town for its appreciation of all it does to preserve the character of the region and keep it beautiful.

Included with the letter was this year’s donation. The selectmen unanimously expressed their appreciation and accepted the gift. Board chairman Bill Hamblen asked if Woodin if he would write a thank you to BRLT, which he agreed to do.

The amount BRLT gives is determined by calculating the property taxes that would have to be paid if they were not a 501c3 nonprofit, and taking into account Maine’s open-space public access tax deduction. This number determines the size of the gift.

The gifts to the other region towns were $20 to Southport (where BRLT has very little land), $415 to Edgecomb, and $2,980 to Boothbay (where the majority of BRLT’s lands are). 

Boothbay Region Land Trust owns a combined total of 1,387 acres on the peninsula set aside as preserves. 

“The towns do so much for everyone,” Ullo said. “Not just in conservation, but upholding environmental regulations that keep the area clean and preserving our working waterfront. Their passionate support of that waterfront plays a major role.

“Every town plays an important role in preserving character and beauty of the region,” Ullo said. 

This gift, which was made in 2012, marks the 17th year BRLT has given this gift to the towns.