A public hearing was held on April 10 at 1:30 p.m. in the back of the Southport Town Hall to discuss the proposed town owned fiber optic broadband network. This system will provide equal access to reliable high-speed internet to everyone on the island All three selectmen were there as well as the Southport Broadband committee and about 50 interested citizens. The voting will be held May 7. Absentee ballots are available from Donna Climo.

This vote is very important because to accomplish the installation as proposed means the town must take out a bond for 2.47 million dollars, a move that will increase our taxes. Speakers were clear that the 2.47 million dollar bond was a high figure. With careful planning and a clear plan, the committee can begin to seek grants, federal money, and perhaps private gifts, to offset the bond. Currently about 94 percent of the homes have access to some form of internet service, but that service is not always reliable, and that service does not have the capacity to keep up with the fiber optic capabilities. For more information on the project and the upcoming informational opportunities for learning more about these plans, email southportcommunitybroadband@gmail.com or call (207) 217-7743 and consult an article elsewhere in this paper.

The Southport Planning Board meeting held April 7 at 5:15 p.m. in the town hall was attended by about 15 persons plus the board members. Blueprints for the plans to develop the former Ship Ahoy motel were spread on tables to allow folks easily to see the plans. Chair, Skip Simonds, reminded everyone that the role of the planning board is to ensure that the proposed plans adhere to the town’s ordinances. A engineer from Swing Bridge Partners, LLC, explained the plans, noting that most existing buildings would be torn down, saving two “barns,” which could be used for storage, and the restaurant building, which would be sold for remodeling into a home. Matt Logan, a partner, answered questions. One change since the last presentation is that now there are eight lots rather than nine, a house previously in the plans being retained by the owner. The lots would be sold as association property with restrictions on building plans for the homes on each lot. As previously stated, each lot would have its own septic system, but all lots would have access to town water. With a few minor contingencies, the plans were approved.

At our Southport town meeting, which was held Monday, April 5, all the articles passed, being voted on both by in-person votes(12) and absentee votes (97). Thank to all for the advance thinking and planning. This change in our way of meeting went very well.

Now looking forward, the Southport Island Association is planning the annual Island Cleanup on Sunday, May 2. Val Gamage exhorts us to all pitch in to clean up our island. She writes “Southport residents and friends are encouraged to gather safely at the Southport Town Hall at noon, Sunday, May 2 to enjoy hot dogs and drinks before proceeding to the clean up effort. (Masks, please, when not eating.) After the lunch, you pick up the provided garbage bags, sign up for a street or road, and off you go. The filled bags are left roadside and will be picked up. You may want to wear boots and bring work gloves. If you would like to work alone, great, or if in a group, we just ask that you mask up and be safe! We want to thank you all for pitching in to keep our Island lovely!”

Note the ad elsewhere in this paper for a real estate auction of a house at 560 Hendricks Head Road to be held Friday, April 23, at 11 a.m.

By the time this column comes out, Robinson’s Wharf should be open again as Wednesday, April 14 was the big day. Slowly some things are getting back to near normal.