Despite the loss of two sponsors, the talks will go on for the Damariscotta Municipal Lot.

The Twin Villages Community Conversations will still be held despite the withdrawl of both the Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce and the Twin Villages Alliance, Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus said in an email.

The plan for pay-for-parking was just one thought brought forward to offset the eventual cost of repairing the lot, which is something that will need to get done, Lutkus said.

“Early in 2012, the board of selectmen asked me to look into alternatives for funding improvements to the Municipal Parking Lot,” Lutkus said. “I was able to obtain a small grant through Lincoln County Planning to undertake a preliminary study on one possible funding source: pay-for-parking.”

Originally, the Twin Villages Alliance and Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce were to cosponsor the talks, but pulled out after it was perceived that the pay-for-parking plan was already accepted amongst the selectmen, Lutkus said.

But, nothing has been decided, which is why the meetings will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on November 13 and again on November 21 in the Great Salt Bay School Cafeteria.

The lot has been free and open to the public for years, but capital will need to be put back into the lot for improvements and continued maintenance. Other possibilities for the lot included improving the aesthetics of the lot with landscaping, public restrooms and a waterfront boardwalk.

But, before any improvements or enhancements can be made, a way to pay for the project needs to be settled.

Lutkus reiterated that the pay-for-parking was just one of several options, and nothing has been committed yet to stone.

“Board members and I were pleasantly surprised to learn of Stutzman's conclusions on the potential revenues from a pay-for-parking system,” he said. “However, the board directed me to set up meetings with citizens and businesses to discuss the community's short term and long term wishes for the parking lot and ideas on how to fund any improvements.

“Pay for parking is only one of several possible scenarios.”

The first meeting of the two towns will focus on information sharing as engineer Travis Pryor will be on hand to discuss the current condition of the lot and what improvements should and could be made. The second meeting will focus on the businesses that use the lot and their input on its condition and where they would like to see it go.

Anyone who cannot attend the meetings is encouraged to contact Lutkus at townmanager@damariscottame.com.