Boothbay Harbor selectmen turned over $3,000 to the Getting Away Together project at the board’s September 9 meeting. The money came from two gifts to the town earmarked for that purpose.

One, $2,000 from Frank Fassett, was given at the previous meeting. The other, for $1,000, was from locals Allan Miller and Pam Burke, given to the town earlier that day.

“We gave the money directly to the town because we thought the more people who gave money, the more the town might realize people want this to happen,” Pam Burke said.

Burke and Miller are both hopeful that Getting Away Together will happen for Boothbay.

“Having a PBS show about the area will be good for the area. You have to go out of your way to get here; we're not right off Route 1 like Camden, Rockland or Wiscasset, so we need ways to get us more on the map,” Burke said.

Before the town voted to pass on the money to the Getting Away Together project, Vice Chairman Robert Splaine asked Frank Fassett why he did not give the check directly to the members of the Getting Away Together Boothbay Committee, who were at the previous meeting.

“It makes it look like Boothbay Harbor doesn't care,” Splaine said.

Fassett answered that he understands that the selectmen can't give taxpayer money away, and he appreciates that the selectmen respect that. He said he felt it was important for the money to come from the town.

“I understand and agree that the town can't give money that the people haven't voted on, so I gave the gift as a gesture since the town's hands are tied in this matter,” Fassett said.

The selectmen voted 4-1, with Splaine opposed, to accepting the gifts and passing them along to Getting Away Together. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Getting Away Together committee passed the $32,000 mark in fundraising. $55,000 is needed in total by the end of the week.

“Something is telling me this is going to happen. Even if we just got to $50,000, I think the cans and a couple last-minute donations would cover it. I know in my gut this is going to happen,” said Audrey Miller of Cottage Connection, who leads the Getting Away Together committee.

Boothbay Region Ambulance Service update

Boothbay Region Ambulance Service Director Robbie Ham gave the selectmen an update on changes taking place due to St. Andrews Hospital Emergency Room closing in October.

These changes include the end of “courtesy” drop-offs from St. Andrews Village to St. Andrews Hospital for treatment, since legally ambulances will be unable to take people there after it becomes an urgent care center.

Ham explained that it wouldn't really be possible to take people all the way to Miles and back as it would tie up an ambulance for too long.

Ham explained the ambulance would probably have two full crews working during the day. They plan to start out with one full crew at night with another crew on call and see how it goes.

“We have to see what call volume is like, and figure out what we need as we go,” Ham said. “One thing is for certain however — if anyone calls needing an ambulance, we will be there for them no matter what.”

Ham also discussed the budget for BRAS. So far this fiscal year (which began July 1), the ambulance service has spent a little over $240,000 of its budget, and have had 384 calls.

This is comparable to last year’s numbers, but as the emergency room has not yet closed, any major changes in calls and costs have not taken place yet.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com