Boothbay selectmen are conflicted about awarding future Ulmer Scholarship requests. The board fears the fund will be overwhelmed with requests as two different student groups are planning European trips next spring.

The board approved two requests from students participating in the German American Partnership Program’s trip to Germany next spring. In March, the board approved a $850 scholarship for Dan Drummond. In April, the board tabled a request by another Boothbay student, Kaitlyn Daku. The board wanted more information about the April 2016 trip before approving any further requests.

On May 13, the board learned that seven of the 13 Boothbay Region High School students participating in the German American Partnership Program live in Boothbay. GAPP is sponsoring a three week cultural exchange program to Germany.

The selectmen later approved the $850 scholarship for Daku. Both Drummond and Daku requested scholarships to pay their airfare in advance. GAPP negotiates better ticket prices by purchasing airfare in advance, according to Town Manager Dan Bryer, who has a son participating in the program.

With five more potential GAPP requests and a student group planning a trip to France next year, the selectmen placed a two-week moratorium on accepting future scholarship applications. The board wants to establish more restrictive guidelines before granting more scholarships.

The Ulmer Scholarship was established in 1994. Madelyn Ulmer donated $50,000, upon her death, to further the town’s high school students’ education.

Ulmer placed limited eligibility qualifications for scholarship recipients. The only criteria she stipulated were that applicants must be Boothbay residents, scholarships can only be used to enhance recipients’ high school education, and the fund’s principle can not be spent.

The selectmen debated the benefits of limiting the number of scholarships versus providing assistance to students who met strict financial need requirements.

“I think we need to award this scholarship (Daku’s), but also put a hold on granting more until a hard and fast (set of) criteria is in place,” said Selectman Chuck Cunningham. “If we keep giving out $850 airline tickets then pretty soon we’re not going to have any money left to give.”

The selectmen will review the criteria used by Boothbay Region High School for awarding scholarships. The board plans on discussing stricter guidelines during its next board meeting.

In other action, the board was updated on the town’s contract with Planning Decisions to serve as the comprehensive planning committee’s consultant. Planning Decisions’ president Mark Eyerman has assisted the committee since May 2013. Planning Decisions entered into a one-year contract for a $30,000. In the two-plus years, Eyerman reported that his firm has expenses totaling over $80,000.

Cunningham and Bryer met with Eyerman on May 11 prior to the Comprehensive Planning Committee’s meeting. The two reported that Eyerman has no issues with working beyond the scope of his contract. Eyerman indicated to Cunningham and Bryer it was the board’s decision to provide additional compensation.

“He left it up to us,” Cunningham said. “He knew it was a big undertaking from the beginning, but no one expected it would take close to three years to finish.”

Cunningham reported Planning Decisions was interested in assisting the planning board in updating the town ordinances. Once the comprehensive plan is enacted, municipalities have two years to rework ordinances to comply with the comprehensive plan.

“Reworking the ordinances would be a better deal for him. He would charge an hourly fee instead of a flat fee as he did for the comprehensive plan,” Cunningham said.

The Boothbay Board of Selectman have a new chairman and vice chairman. The board appointed Dale Harmon as chairman and Doug Burnham as vice chairman. Harmon served the past year as vice chairman. Harmon cautioned the other selectmen prior to his appointment that his accessibility would be limited during the next few months.

“I’m willing to do it. I’ve been here long enough to move over to the next seat and run the show. But the next few months, I expect to be swamped at work and not available during the day.”

The selectmen also donated $1,000 from their contingency fund to the Boothbay Region Senior Citizens Club. The group was mistakenly left of the town meeting warrant for the second consecutive year. Earlier this year, the club received $1,000 from Boothbay Harbor and $500 from Southport.

The selectmen will meet next at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 in the municipal building.