Boothbay selectmen had a light agenda for their Oct. 11 meeting which lasted 29 minutes. So, their meeting was dominated by what happened prior to their scheduled gathering. Boothbay selectmen joined their Boothbay Harbor counterparts with a 90-minute tour of the elementary and high schools. In November, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor residents will vote on multiple options to fix their aging schools. The local referendum has two questions: No. 1 seeks approval for a $28.8 million bond to construct and equip renovations to the elementary school. The bond also includes funding a seventh- and eighth-grade wing.. No. 2 seeks voter approval only if Question 1 is approved. The question seeks approval to authorize the CSD trustees to include in the project replacement of the high school building and facilities along with an auditorium. Question 2 is seeking $60.2 million. 

Boothbay selectmen requested the guided tour by school officials last month to better gauge the two schools’ condition. In September, Selectman Steve Lewis wondered why the elementary school needed an addition when enrollment was half than when it was built in 1977. School officials reported modern education had more state requirements such as additional space for special education, advanced technology and occupational therapy. During the board meeting, Lewis said “There are plenty of state mandates, but not much in state funds.”

Selectmen also learned the referendum questions must be approved by each town. During the public forum, the prospect of approving $89 million for school improvements boggled the minds of two voters. Boothbay Harbor resident Tom Perkins provided selectmen with an updated Boothbay Region High School enrollment projection. Perkins received the enrollment figures as of Oct. 1 from the Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 central office: Boothbay, 73; Boothbay Harbor, 40; Edgecomb, 31; Southport, 13; other, 14. With Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor combining for 113 students, Perkins expressed his concerns that the school project was too much for local taxpayers to bear. “The numbers illustrate it’s not financially sensible to own and maintain new buildings at the end of the peninsula,” he said. “Boothbay will always pay the bulk of costs. I want people to vote how they want. I just want to make sure they have all the facts.”

Boothbay resident Pam Reed was equally concerned about higher taxes due to a potential $89 million construction project. She asked why Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor were tasked with providing a school facility for neighboring towns. She wanted selectmen to search for a cost-saving educational measure. She said St. George, a small, rural coastal town, operates a kindergarten through grade eight school and tuitions out the high school students. “Do (school officials) ever discuss anything else but the $89 million (option)? Why can’t we just fix what is broken,” she said. 

Reed is also concerned about apparent “unfairness” with current per pupil costs. Tuition students’ rate is set by the state at $12,800, while the CSD has a higher per pupil rate for Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor students. "We’re stuck with paying for our own and others. It’s not right. Have we ever looked at getting rid of the CSD, and going out on our own?”

Selectman Julie Roberts told her the CSD’s “hands were tied” about tuition rates. She advised her to speak with State Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, about changing the law. Town Manager Dan Bryer reported he and Boothbay Harbor Town Manager Julia Latter were attending AOS 98’s Regionalization Committee which is considering the future of education in the Boothbay peninsula and Wiscasset region schools. “We are taking a wait-and-see approach. The chair is from Georgetown and vice-chair is from Edgecomb. So there are things they want to discuss. We will see what they come up with and maybe Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor may step away,” Bryer said.

Board Chairman Chuck Cunningham is also concerned about the prospect of a huge tax increase. “Even if the school budget, county taxes, and municipal taxes all stay flat, the school project will increase local taxes by 30-40%,” he said.

In other action, selectmen held two public hearings regarding liquor licenses. One was for Boothbay Playhouse Events, LLC for a new self-sponsored events liquor license. The second was a renewal for Boothbay Crafts Brewery, Inc for a Class I, II, III, IV restaurant license. Selectmen voted 4-0-1 to approve Sara and John Berkeley’s request for their Boothbay Playhouse Events business located at 275 Wiscasset Road. Cunningham’s home is near the business so he abstained. Selectmen unanimously approved Win and Lori Mitchell’s license renewal for their Boothbay Craft Brewery Inc  business located at 301 Adams Pond Road.

Selectmen approved a pole permit for Central Maine Power. The permit allows for a new pole at West Side Road, also known as West Barters Island Road.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 in the conference room.