Boothbay Harbor Selectman Mark Osborn has submitted his letter of resignation. At the board’s Sept. 22 meeting, Osborn said he is changing his primary residence to Portland and will not be able to serve on the board per local ordinances.   

“Thank you for the privilege of working alongside such dedicated colleagues and for the trust the residents of Boothbay Harbor have placed in me. I look forward to seeing the town continue to thrive,” Osborn said in his letter.    

Osborn plans to remain a part of the Boothbay Harbor community, will still be a property owner and taxpayer, and will continue to serve on local, non-municipal boards.   

The selectboard accepted the resignation. “I will make that motion with much regret and thanks, I've enjoyed having your voice on the board,” Selectman Ken Rayle said.    

The board also agreed not to hold a special election to fill the vacant seat. According to the board and Town Manager Julia Latter, a newly elected board member would serve for four months until a regular election. The board agreed that would likely be too brief and decided to move forward with four members.    

In other business, the board approved a $241,656.36 purchase order to replace the lighting on the footbridge, which was damaged by the 2024 winter storms. The current temporary system isn't expected to last through winter, according to Chair Michael Tomko, and Latter said the new system should be more resilient to storms. She said some of the cost will be reimbursed through state or federal emergency funds, but the town is still waiting on the amount. Latter said installation is set to start Sept. 29.  

Selectmen approved $27,432 to buy SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) bottles for the fire department. Latter said the bottles need to be replaced this year, and the town has been saving for three years in anticipation.    

The board adopted and signed new annual Maine Municipal General Assistance Ordinances appendices for October through next September. 

During public forum, former selectman Denise Griffin echoed a message she delivered to the Community School District Board of Trustees Sept. 11. She raised concerns about the 2023 charter change, which she said reduced the trustees' powers. According to her, the final version of the latest charter differed from what the town reviewed during the approval process. She hopes the board will support the trustees if they come for help.   

“When you do get those changes, the big (lesson) here, particularly if they come in at the last minute, is to be very careful as to what you sign off on. I think we didn't have enough time, and we didn't realize the ramifications,” she said.