The Boothbay Harbor Board of Selectmen continue to move forward with the revote concerning whether selectmen can serve on the Boothbay Region Water District Board, despite qualms from some locals.

On February 27, the ballot measure to allow selectmen to serve on the Water District board failed in Boothbay Harbor, 33-27. It passed in Southport, 47-28, and in Boothbay, 37-33.

Now the Water District is seeking a revote in Boothbay Harbor to try to change that decision. According to Maine State law, the Water District has the right to request Boothbay Harbor to revote, without having to involve the other two towns.

A public hearing for comment was held April 8, and several members of the community came out to express their opinions. During the selectmen’s meeting that followed, the discussion continued.

“We had a vote, that should be the end of it,” Selectman Jay D. Warren said.

“Three towns voted. If we have to revote all three should. A vote is sacrosanct, and this doesn’t smell right,” Selectman Robert Splaine said. “(The Water District’s) charter says they can do this, but if it’s all so cut-and-dried, why do they have to come before us and ask?”

Board Chairman Bill Hamblen said that a revote was the legal right of the Water District. Selectman Valerie Young agreed, and added that voter turnout was low and a revote should be allowed.

Frank Fassett of Boothbay Harbor voiced his objection to a revote. “We had a vote, voters responded to the question, and (the Water District) didn’t get the answer they wanted. They should have to wait a year to revisit this issue. Is my vote meaningless?”

Bruce Engert of Boothbay Harbor also expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to proceed. “Voter turnout was low, yes, but higher in proportion than it was in Boothbay,” Engert said. “Town meetings have even lower turnout, about 50 to 60 people. Would it be your right to ignore those votes?”

Selectmen heard a motion to stop the process of moving the vote forward. The motion failed 2-3, with selectman Robert Splaine and Jay D. Warren voting to stop and Young, Hamblen and selectman Arthur Hathaway voting to continue.

Hathaway announced earlier in the week that he would retire as of April 8.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.