A community-led effort to create a joint Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor veterans memorial has been making progress, according to committee representative Kevin Bowler. Bowler spoke at the Sept. 8 Boothbay Harbor selectmen’s meeting, where she updated the board on progress and floated the need for fundraising.  

In March, Bowler presented the idea to the board, and chair Michael Tomko agreed to join the memorial committee. Months later, the group has picked a design and is figuring out how to pay for it.  

The proposed design is a wall with military branch seals and individual names and ranks on about 1,000 pavers. Bowler said the memorial would be for all veterans of wars, from the revolution to present day, who have died. However, they would have had to have been Boothbay or Boothbay Harbor full-time residents and have been drafted or enlisted from one of the two towns. Tomko and Bowler said the memorial would replace the Kenniston Cemetery World War II Monument in Boothbay and would keep its requirements in the same spirit.  

Bowler said the finalized project design is estimated to cost a little under $13,000, and the committee is in the early stages of fundraising planning. She asked whether the towns could help by splitting funds, which could then be paid back. 

Tomko added that representatives from the American Legion and VFW said there is “tremendous support” for the project, and the Legion may act as the fundraising wing. Bowler said a group representative also met with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. The selectboard made no decisions about the request at the meeting.

In other business, the board declined to schedule a public hearing and special town meeting for two proposed warrant articles. The first would have been ordinance changes to allow municipal kiosks more leeway in where they are placed. However, the board agreed to get input from the planning board first. 

The second would have been to raise funds for footbridge lighting through a special meeting. However, Town Manager Julia Latter said the project could be paid for through the undesignated fund balance. The board agreed, and the item was scheduled to be voted on at their Sept. 22 meeting. Latter told the Register the total cost won't be finalized until the vote because the town is awaiting FEMA reimbursement figures. However, she said the project is scheduled to begin Sept. 29 and, hopefully, be finished by mid-October. 

Latter also informed the board that the town's pump-out capabilities are limited. She said the pump-out boat will be on-call after Sept. 22 until mid-October due to decreased need. 

During public forum, Mary Ellen Barnes of Westport Island presented the town with a plaque naming it an “Official Gig Town” by Fidium Fiber/Consolidated Communications. Barnes said she was working with the company and local groups to expand broadband in the area, and they wanted to recognize towns that supported the efforts. She said the move was an upgrade for the communities, and they will benefit because it allows for competition between internet providers.