Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Community School District officials have reach agreement on all major charter changes except one. Dec. 12, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor selectmen were joined by CSD superintending committee members and trustees in discussing one final change. All three entities support changing the school budget validation process from a town-hall style public vote to a written ballot referendum. 

But for future charters changes, especially ones involving changing the school budget validation process, school officials prefer a public vote to revert back to the town hall-style school format. Under the current proposal, any charter change would require legislative approval.

If the charter’s “repeal and replace” is approved in the next legislative session, school officials support including current Maine law requiring a referendum every three years on the budget validation method. 

Initially, both select boards favored keeping future changes under the legislature’s purview. “I’d hate to see this yo-yo every couple years. So I’d prefer any charter changes occur in the legislature,” Boothbay Selectman Dale Harmon said.  But his position changed after Boothbay Selectman Chuck Cunningham proposed a compromise of a referendum every six years after proffering seven and 10-year options. “I’m concerned about yo-yoing, too. But what if we set it at six years,” he said.  

CSD superintending committee members and trustees supported the compromise. “I find six years as a reasonable compromise. It provides residents with an option to change back to a town hall meeting without going through Augusta. It saves a big step,” Superintending Committee member Abby Jones said.

But most Boothbay Harbor selectmen prefer pursuing the “lock box” approach which requires that charter changes result from legislative approval. At the workshop, Mike Tomko and Trish Warren supported the lock box approach. Alyssa Allen said she supports six years as a compromise. Tomko reported he spoke to missing members Denise Griffin and Ken Rayle, who also support the lock box approach. “For our board nothing has really changed in the past nine months,” Tomko said. “Our board has been the same about the indefinite (timeframe).”

The workshop adjourned without a consensus due to time constraints. Boothbay Harbor selectmen had a 6 p.m. board meeting. Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor have a Friday, Dec. 30 deadline for submitting their charter “repeal and replace” legislation. No more workshops are scheduled for this month.

Boothbay selectmen were not going to discuss the charter at their Dec. 14 meeting, Town Manager Dan Bryer said. Boothbay Harbor cancelled its Tuesday, Dec. 26 select board meeting. Bryer reported Boothbay plans on holding its Wednesday, Dec. 28 select board meeting, but there are no plans to discuss the charter. When asked when the two towns and CSD would decide on a final proposal, Bryer said he didn’t know.