Boothbay Harbor Select Board Chair Wendy Wolf explained the roles of the select and planning boards in zoning and ordinance changes at the Monday, Dec. 11 select board meeting.

Said Wolf, “I want to assure you that everyone that sits at this table is very interested in economic development and we’re very interested in having the zoning examined by the planning board and for them to bring forward recommendations to the voters that will allow business development and redevelopment in the east side of the harbor.”

Wolf explained, such changes are under the purview of the planning board which reviews ordinances and recommends which changes are necessary. The select board then accepts or rejects planning board recommendations, then drafts and reviews ordinance language for voters to then consider.

“The decisions rest with the voters,” said Wolf. “The planning board is a meeting open to the public and these are changes that need a lot of public input … We encourage public feedback at all public stages of this process.”

The select board also pointed out that public proceedings on issues demanding a town vote, such as zoning or ordinance changes, do not solely rely on the annual town meeting in May. Wolf said if the planning board makes recommendations which are investigated and drafted by the select board and the items require a town vote, a special town vote can be called.

Darrell Gudroe asked what a special town vote would cost. Town Manager Tom Woodin said it would likely be hundreds of dollars considering staff payment and meals if need be.

Harvey Oest said he would like to see the two boards work together on making a faster process for zoning changes.

“I’m very interested in seeing my personal taxes go down and the tax base to go up and I think this is a progressive opportunity for doing that. And a strong opportunity.”

Planning board member Bill Hamblen complimented Wolf’s summary and said the planning board is considering putting a group together to tackle east side zoning. He said the group would have a select board member, a planning board member, Lincoln County Planner Bob Faunce, a planner put forth by Coulombe, another professional planner, and members of the business community on the east side of the harbor. Hamblen said Coulombe’s submission for zoning changes provides an opportunity to seriously look into changes and that it is something the town should be doing and that has been brought to the attention of the board even before Coulombe’s proposal.

Linc Sample aired his concern over attitudes that members of the public perceive from select and planning board members. Sample said he had had conversations with many people around town asking about Planning Board Chair Tom Churchill’s attitude toward Coulombe during the Nov. 15 meeting.

“A lot of this town is perception,” said Sample. “And if it is perceived that people aren’t being listened to as they should, then it’s a cause for concern.”

Clifton Cane said Boothbay Harbor board members and residents are not focusing on the bigger picture.

“Why just the east side?” asked Cane. 

Cane said he encourages everybody to look at everything, especially the ordinances requiring businesses to use no less than 10,000 square feet.

Wolf said she believes most of those who are looking at zoning changes to the east side are thinking about the bigger picture. Hamblen also brought up the fact that the planning board is looking at changing those rules considering only five percent of businesses have more than the 10,000-square-foot minimum.

Bob McKay asked if the board had had any contact with Coulombe since his decision to pull out of reinvestment plans on the east side of the harbor.

“No, I believe we have not,” said Wolf. “In fact, like many of you, we found out about that decision through the Register story just like you did.”

According to Wolf, the board is more than willing to speak to Coulombe, but that when he approached them to be on the agenda for the Dec. 12 meeting, they suggested he start with the planning board since it is the appropriate venue for such proposals. Wolf added that when the time is right, the select board would become involved in the process.

Beyond the public forum on the harbor’s east side development, Wolf said the Joint Economic Deveopment Committee has met with its consultants at Camoin Associates on the Boothbay Region economic master plan. The consultants are nearly finished with their final recommendations and Wolf  anticipates a regional, public meeting in the first week of February. 

“Some of (the recommendations), I would say, are convergent on what we chatted about tonight,” said Wolf. “It’s nice to have some objective outsiders reinforcing some of the things we are trying to accomplish.”  

Scott Campbell, Boothbay Harbor Emergency Management Agency director, delivered the annual emergency preparedness and readiness plan to the select board. Campbell said he has been busy dealing with the aftermath of the Oct. 30 windstorm.

“The governor did ask for a declaration from FEMA. We’re still waiting on that,” said Campbell.

Campbell is rewriting the emergency response plan for three towns. He is in the process of finishing the final draft for Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport. Select board member Mike Tomko asked Campbell if the board could do anything to help him on it.

“Read it through,” said Campbell. “I’ve put these through before and asked for people’s opinions and I never got any. It makes it really difficult.”

Town Manager Tom Woodin announced the Monday, Dec. 25 select board meeting would be canceled due to the holidays. Woodin presented an invoice on warrants from Baker Design consultants for $9,187.81. The board unanimously approved payment.

The board thanked all involved with the fireworks and all the Gardens Aglow warming station shuttle stop volunteers for their work. Wolf also said the board would be welcoming visitors to the region at the warming station on Friday, Dec. 29.

The board meets next on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.