As the budget season rolls on, the Boothbay selectmen will be considering the consequences of a 5 percent increase to Lincoln County budget, and the possibility that municipal revenue sharing will be reduced for a second consecutive year. Town department leaders are slated to participate in ongoing budget discussions with selectmen.

Bob Faunce from the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission will be in attendance to brief the selectmen on the Maine Eastern Railroad passenger rail service based out of Wiscasset this summer. Additionally he will be appealing to the board to make a contribution to provide shuttle service from the train station to the Boothbay region.

A communications company called IDK was hired to conduct an independent technical review of a proposed cell tower on Ocean Point Road. IDK analyzed the environmental impact, coverage area and rated the overall performance for the proposed tower and site.

After completing its review, IDK found that there are in fact coverage gaps existing in East Boothbay, and the proposed site for the cell tower will provide coverage to the East Boothbay deadzones. They also found that an alternative site for a tower at Bigelow Laboratory would not provide the same amount of coverage as the proposed site on Ocean Point.

A public hearing is scheduled with Boothbay Board of Appeals, who will review the study and hear arguments from both sides of the issue. Attorneys representing Mariner Tower and concerned residents will be attending the hearing on January 28 at 7 p.m.

For a complete agenda, click here. The January 22 selectmen meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the town hall. The public is welcome.