Boothbay Harbor will be getting a new pump-out boat for spring to cover services for 12 marinas across the town’s coast. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has mandated marinas accommodating 18 or more boats over 25 feet to provide pump-out services.

Town Manager Julia Latter said Aug. 8 the town would continue providing the services with a 10% cost commitment from the 12 marinas. DEP also has grants available for the new program, she said. According to DEP’s website, marinas that are awarded grants will be required to charge no more than $5 in fees. Marinas that do not apply for grants will be able to charge no more than $10 in fees.

“When we get the commitment from the marinas as well as the invoices sent out, we'll put in for the purchase of this,” said Latter. “The grant application has already been completed.”

The grant will be applied to the purchase of a new pump-out boat, but in order to beat cost increases, the town will need to finalize the sale before Sept. 1, said Latter. Selectmen will receive a purchase order at their Aug. 22 meeting.

Latter and Boothbay Town Manager Dan Bryer met recently with Maine Department of Transportation representatives about phase two of the Route 27 sidewalk project. Phase one of the project was completed Nov. 2021 connecting the Boothbay Region YMCA to Pinkham’s Market and the rest of the project continues to the Boothbay roundabout.

Project engineers Sebago Technics is still finishing phase one’s paperwork and invoicing, so decisions cannot be made until the two towns know how much money will be left over, said Latter. Boothbay’s fiscal commitment to the project ended with the construction of the roundabout and Boothbay Harbor only has $27,000 left, though the project is funded 80% by MDOT. The project was estimated to cost $565,000 in all.

Said Latter, “Until we know how much money is left over (we need) to see what we'd actually want to expend to move forward. I'll bring all that back to the board to see if it's something you'll want to entertain for the next fiscal year.”