The Boothbay Harbor Selectboard moved ahead March 10 on a new comprehensive plan and salt and sand shed. The board approved bids totaling around $290,000 for the two projects. Residents are expected to vote on the projects as part of May's town meeting warrant. 

Selectmen accepted a $162,493 bid from General Steel Buildings to construct a 50-foot by 62-foot by 20-foot building to store both sand and salt after the current structure was determined to be in poor condition. According to Town Manager Julia Latter, the bid covers everything, including a concrete foundation and walls, except sitework and gravel. The bid comes with a 50-year structural warranty.  

"The building that is currently there is only holding liability insurance. It is not in good condition," she said. "Our insurance company says we need to replace it or tear it down. And we've never had anything store our sand. So this is a great opportunity to be able to house both our sand and our salt."

The town agreed to take out a $175,000, five-year loan to pay for the building project and extra for the sitework. Latter thinks the town should move forward quickly in anticipation of rising steel prices. 

The board also approved a $114,090 bid from consulting firm VHB to update the town’s 2015 comprehensive plan after an interview process over the past weeks. The firm presented the board with a 41-page proposal to address future land use, housing, sustainability and climate resiliency. The proposal includes community outreach and engagement efforts to hear residents’ priorities and guidance. The firm said the plan would be finished around April 2026.  

In other business, selectmen authorized the signing of a CSD bond referendum warrant for a public vote to fund $1.6 million on repairs to the schools. An April 24 referendum is scheduled with a public hearing March 31. “A motion to authorize does not represent either an acknowledgement or approval from our board nor is it a recommendation or a non-recommendation,” said Selectboard Chair Michael Tomko.  

Tomko volunteered for a board position on a community group working on a veterans memorial. Kevin Bowler of Boothbay spoke to the board about efforts to repair the World War II memorial in Boothbay. The plans are evolving into the possibility of creating a regional memorial for all veterans of all wars.  

“I think there is a long history of collaboration between the town of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor ... I think it's a fabulous idea,” Tomko said, adding that he would like to join the board and honor his veteran father.  

The board approved the nomination of Tom Nadeau and Patrick Sheldon to the Boothbay Region Climate Action Team.