Boothbay Harbor Town Manager Julia Latter told selectmen Nov. 8, public works' only candidate for heavy equipment operations has fallen through. Latter said she and Public Works Foreman Nick Upham have worked out the schedule and routes for winter and it's a “pretty scary outlook” being down an employee. The vacant job is responsible for 13 roads, she said.

Several towns across Maine said it is now common practice to hire out to another town when understaffed, Latter said. “They do it in Damariscotta and Bristol and Westport where they bid out per mile, so it is something we may have to do because we don't want to be so short-staffed we can't get to the roads.”

Plow truck drivers must have a commercial driver's license (CDL), but can be hired so long as the license is obtained within six months, Latter said. The town will continue advertising the job.

Planning Board Chair Tom Churchill said he wants the town to move forward with short-term ordinance changes that can be made ahead of work on a new comprehensive plan and harbor master plan. The driving force behind the updates are a number of changes the planning board and other municipal officers or employees have found, particularly on housing.

“We were wondering whether our comprehensive plan gives us the legal authority to make those changes. What I would suggest is to look at the comprehensive plan, then look at the housing study when that's complete and see how those two come together.”

If the town can find a way to make such changes supported by the current comp plan, it will make for an easier, cheaper and faster process than the drudgery of creating a new plan just to those ends, said Churchill. Selectmen agreed to review the comprehensive plan by splitting chapters among selectmen and holding workshops to present findings and interpretations justifying ordinance changes.

As for long term solutions, said Churchill, “Should we continue to cut and paste and patch or should we just start over? That's a very big question and I don't know who answers that one.”

Vice Chair Tricia Warren urged selectmen and the public to participate in the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District Building Exploratory Project. Warren said she joined the community engagement subcommittee which is working to keep the public informed about the project.

Warren said the end product will be a referendum on the CSD’s future, a product of community input and the architects and engineers’ expertise melding into a tangible blueprint and cost.

“It's important we understand this is our moment to do something about the school we all share … I don't think it's going to work out well if you're a Monday-morning-quarterback showing up and saying you don't understand when all of a sudden it comes up at referendum. Because it will. Get involved now while you can.”

Latter said she has been in touch with other local communities on a potential cost-share for a town planner. The town has budgeted $25,000 for the past two years for a town planner/consultant, Latter said. After hiring Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission for a housing and market study for $9,000, there will still be some funding as the town considers what should go into next year's budget.

Pear Street and Road's End paving will wait until next year, Latter said. The project manager from Crooker Construction said his company also had staffing issues and projects have been delayed as a result, she said. Crooker has agreed to honor asphalt prices and has committed to have both projects done by May 1.

Selectmen promoted two alternates each for the port committee and planning board. Richard Lawrence was moved to a full member of the port committee and Devyn Campbell to first alternate. Jon Dunsford was moved to full member of the planning board and Lee Corbin to first alternate. Selectmen approved Tom Minerich’s application for second alternate on the planning board.