Boothbay selectmen on Jan. 22 discussed spending more money on road maintenance. Town Manager Dan Bryer submitted his first draft of the Fiscal Year 21 budget. It includes $10,000 more in road paving. He reported the budget is “still a work in progress” and needs final FY 20 budget figures on surpluses and overdraft accounts. In presenting his first draft, Byrer reported it’s about a 4% increase over last year’s $2,168.998 figure voters approved in May. 

Last year, Boothbay spent over $200,000 on road paving. The town has appropriated $167,000 each budget for several years on road construction. The town also receives approximately $60,000 from Maine’s Local Road Assistance Fund. Boothbay stretched its paving dollars farther during the Route 27 Improvement Project by working on Chapel Street and Common Drive. Boothbay spends over $200,000 on roads per year which selectmen believe is inadequate to properly maintain 64 miles of town roads. 

At the previous board meeting on Jan. 8, Bryer proposed adding another $10,000 per year to increase the road construction fund and work toward an eventual  $250,000 to $300,000 annually. In past years, the town raised money for road construction work and Public Works Director Mike Alley decided which roads were in the greatest need of repair. Selectmen will invite Alley to address them at a future board meeting to discuss which roads need the most immediate attention. 

“I just want to hear what he would do if money was no object or something like what it would cost to fix the eight worst roads,” Selectman Steve Lewis said. Selectmen are considering returning to a 10-year road maintenance rotation plan. The town had one several years ago before asphalt prices became prohibitive. Selectmen estimated a serious attempt at road construction may cost $500,000 to $1 million. Selectman Kristina Ford proposed a municipal bond which would cover short-term costs for road construction and affordable housing. 

In other action, selectmen want Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor to select one recipient of the Spirit America Award. Since 1991, the Maine Spirit of America Foundation has requested municipalities nominate a deserving person dedicated to community service. All Lincoln County recipients are invited to a special recognition ceremony in Wiscasset. Bryer will contact Boothbay Harbor officials about a suitable nominee and report to selectmen via e-mail.

Selectmen also unanimously approved a wharves and weirs application for Allen Maine Properties of Longview, Texas. The applicant requested extending a pier by 90 feet on their Higbee Lane property. The parcel is in a special residential and shoreland overlay zone. The applicant previously received all state and federal approvals along with Boothbay planning board approval earlier this month. 

Selectmen meet next month at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 in the municipal building's conference room.