Boothbay Harbor selectmen opted to table Town Manager Tom Woodin’s request to shift $23,000 to the basketball and pickleball courts project May 28. The funds originated from the harbor master reserve account and were applied to matching funds on the Route 27 sidewalk project, which has further risen in estimated costs to approximately $1 million.

Woodin said he is unsure if the project will be put out to bid again this fall or next spring, but with Maine construction companies backed up on projects, bids are coming in extremely high. The courts' striping will move forward regardless, Woodin noted, but the cost increase of the sidewalk project means the board will eventually have to go to the voters to raise more matching funds. The $23,000 would correct cost overruns from the ball courts project and would likely allow it to be finished by fall.

Selectman Wendy Wolf said she is hesitant about pulling out any of the 20% in matching funds since Boothbay and local partners have also invested in the project which involves a Maine Department of Transportation grant.

“… If Boothbay Harbor starts withdrawing matching money, then why doesn't Boothbay? Then the sidewalk really will not happen,” said Wolf.

“Based on estimates now, we're short a little over $40,000,” Woodin said of the sidewalk project. “That's not something I can pull from any accounts …”

The board voted unanimously to table the issue and review information they did not have at the meeting.

Selectman Denise Griffin updated the board on more sidewalk news: a potential Atlantic Avenue sidewalk relocation. Woodin and representatives from MDOT walked Atlantic Avenue several times on at least two occasions, Griffin said. MDOT thought it was a good idea, but without survey information on its right of way for a sidewalk, it would not be able to commit.

The board engaged Leighton and Associates to do a survey, but the board instead received a survey sketch. “(The firm) basically indicated that there was no room within the roadway right now for a sidewalk,” Griffin said.

The board will need to know if there is still enough public interest in a project because there will need to be more survey information and a way to get the real estate, Griffin said: Asking landowners to donate the five to six feet of property needed, taking the property by eminent domain, or applying zoning amendments which require sidewalks. Including Griffin, the board immediately rejected eminent domain.

Said Griffin, “We also heard from MDOT that it might be quicker if we did it ourselves and not include them, but the value of course from including MDOT is that we get to use some of their funding for it.”

Food a la carts

Two license applications tasked the board with handling a business model which, until now, has been foreign to Boothbay Harbor: food carts.

Griffin suggested the applicants should have to list the intended site and dates of operation. Applicant Heidi's Hot Dog Wagon did not list an address on the application, so the board tabled its decision until the next meeting. Boothbay resident Lester Spear's Cameron Clan Snack Company had an address attached to the application, but did not list a site.

Spear said Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library would be allowing his business, a mobile kettle corn popping tent, to operate on the front lawn on specific dates and other dates yet to be determined.

“Every town, which I didn't know, is different: Boothbay, if you apply for the year, I can pop on the Common, I can pop at Harold Clifford Playground, I can pop on private property,” said Spear.

The board voted unanimously to approve Spear's application amended with Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library's address as its location. Griffin moved to ask the planning board to fix this issue before next season and selectmen voted unanimously in favor.

Other news and announcements

The board appointed Alan Boyes deputy harbor master while continuing advertising for the harbor master job.

“The harbor master ad is still running at least until June 14, so if you know anyone who might be looking for part-time summer help out on the water please encourage them to apply,” Woodin said.

Selectmen also discussed possibly holding meetings only once per month until August, but made no decisions.