It was announced at the July 1 Southport selectmen’s meeting, the town has been approved for a grant worth $112,613 from the Keep Maine Healthy 2020 Municipal COVID-19 Awareness Campaign.

In a letter from Maine CDC-Department of Health and Human Services, Interim Associate Director Michael Abbott wrote the award is “subject to execution of a written contract,” which will “cover allowable expenses based upon the approved plan.”

Ashlea Tibbetts, with assistance from resident Nancy Prisk, applied for the grant. The funds will be used to offset costs of keeping Southport’s population safe and healthy during the pandemic. Line items include funds Tibbetts identified for “hands-free hand sanitizing stations, social distancing signage, thermometers, PPE for the school and fire department, electronic signage at the bridge” and “new desks and chairs for the school” to allow for required social distancing among the students.

In other business, Chair Gerry Gamage said the sale of “Ruth’s House” went through on June 30.         

“It’s truly good news,” said Gamage. “After some seven years of having the house on the town’s books, it’s a relief to move on. We received the check in the full amount and have signed the warrant to pay off the loan with which the town of Southport bought the property.”

A private buyer from Andover, Massachusetts has bought the house and land. “We don’t know what they plan to do with the house,” said Selectman Smith Climo. “But they are hoping to hold their daughter’s wedding there next summer.”

Gamage also reported Boothbay Harbor has approved David Cody for EMA regional director. Gamage urged selectmen to approve the appointment. He reported Cody comes with all the right credentials, having been in the Salem, Massachusetts fire department for 35 years, including 14 as fire chief and emergency management coordinator for the city.