Businessman Lester Spear nearly pulled the plug on his Boothbay Winter Festival plans after selectmen initially balked at his proposed $2 admission fee. Previously, Spear and selectmen agreed Boothbay Common would be a better place for the festival than its previous location on Route 27. On Nov. 10, Spear updated selectmen about the festival which includes food trucks, crafts, Christmas tree sales and a heavily decorated Boothbay Common. The festival coincides with Gardens Aglow which runs from Nov. 20 to Jan. 1. 

Spear has updated selectmen weekly. He hadn’t previously mentioned a $2 admission fee for non-Boothbay region residents. Spear told selectmen in recent days he realized his investment was higher than anticipated with substantial costs for holiday lighting, signs and insurance coverage. The proposed admission fee was an attempt to recoup those spiraling costs. 

Selectman Chuck Cunningham objected.  “This is public land. You shouldn’t be charging an admission fee,” he said. 

Spear countered, without a fee he wouldn’t be able to host the event. “I don’t have any other option, if not,  then I will shut it down,” Spear said. But the town has allowed another event on the common to charge admission. Selectman Steve Lewis remembered an antique show charged an admission without prior approval. “Almost by accident we found out. So we negotiated with  him to make a donation to a local nonprofit,” he said. “I don’t like the idea of charging a fee, but it’s been done in the past.”

Lewis suggested possibly changing the fee to a donation. Spear agreed that may be a better future option. Selectmen discussed updating their administrative code to better address handling matters regarding events charging a Boothbay Common admission fee. “In a perfect scenario, (Spear) would make enough to cover his costs and donate a portion of profits to a nonprofit,” Lewis said. 

In other action, Cunningham wondered if the town had heard from Spectrum about a joint-venture to expand broadband coverage town-wide. In June, Spectrum proposed a new program called “Community Wi-Fi.”

The town and Spectrum agreed to review contract language for a potential 10-year deal where Spectrum would provide 100% broadband access at a lower price. The agreement would eliminate the gap in coverage to unserved or underserved sections of town. The program would be a partnership between Boothbay and Spectrum. The town would be charged $24.99 per month for an estimated 2,400 households. The town would own the network and set rates to individual customers.

But the town hasn’t received any proposed contract language. Town Manager Dan Bryer reported he’d made several calls to Spectrum without a response. Selectmen directed Bryer to write Spectrum a letter to see if they were still interested in a deal. Selectmen will also begin to seek other options for providing 100% public broadband access.

Selectmen meet next at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24 in the municipal conference room.