“Overall, we’ve had a good year,” said Daryl Kipp, chair of Boothbay Harbor Sewer District, while reviewing the yearly budget to date during a Dec. 3 board of trustees meeting.   

The district has received $150,000 over its projected income, while its expenses have remained $221,000 under budget so far. However, these figures are liable to change as the year finishes as there are several significant expenses for December, including billing from the search firm used to find a new superintendent, water quality and fuel bills, among other things.  

The board also attributed the low expenses to a lack of paid salaries as they’ve been without a superintendent since Nick DeGemmis departed in September. The district is also down two regular employees. 

This comes as the district prepares for its 2025 budget and proposed sewer rate public hearing. The board is seeking a 3.5% rate increase, which is about the level of inflation, according to Clerk Russell Hoffman. A breakdown of the proposed budget can be found on the district’s Facebook page. The hearing is Dec, 17 at 5 p.m. All ratepayers are encouraged to attend either in-person at the district’s office at 27 Sea St. in Boothbay Harbor, or online via Zoom. 

In other action, the board unanimously approved a $15,128 abatement on the sewer bill for Ocean Point Homes, the trailer park on Route 96, due to a water main break. The leakage caused the bill to rise to over $21,000; the district will be crediting back about three-fourths of the total. 

The board discussed updating its personnel handbook to more accurately reflect the current drug regulations in Maine, particularly the section on the use of marijuana. The board is waiting for further instruction from Maine Department of Labor.