Boothbay Town Manager Dan Bryer solved a mystery last week regarding missing or non-existing code enforcement office documents dating back over four decades.  Bryer assisted in researching a dispute between Barters Island resident Frederic Lewis and Code Enforcement Officer Dan Feeney. Selectmen heard the complaint because the board is in charge of annual municipal appointments.

In public hearings Oct. 9 and Oct. 16 lasting over a combined six hours, selectmen ruled Feeney hadn't acted improperly toward Lewis, who was seeking municipal permits to allow Central Maine Power to reconnect power to a second Barters Island building constructed in 1977. Feeney began searching for municipal permits for the structure but couldn't find any in the municipal building's storage space in the attic. 

Selectmen ruled Feeney hadn't acted improperly and required Lewis to allow for a building inspection. Lewis declined at first before Bryer was selected as a third-party inspector. Bryer planned on submitting to Lewis a list of requirements dating back to 1977 in order to receive a certificate of occupancy for the second building.

Bryer began researching the 1977 municipal building code requirements and found the answer to the near half-century mystery.

"After doing some research, I discovered those regulations which exist now, didn't nearly 50 years ago, so everything worked out," he said.