Boothbay Harbor passed all articles at its annual meeting Saturday.  Moderator Ervin Snyder, chosen by secret ballot Friday, revealed Friday’s other results. The candidates all won unopposed.

With 105 votes, Selectmen’s Chair Wendy Wolf won three more years. There were 27 blanks. Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD Board trustee Steve Lorrain Sr. kept his seat  for a three-year term (120-12). Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor CSD School Committee Vice Chair Stephanie Hawke another incumbent, won another three years (112-20). Isabelle Lewis won a vacant seat carrying a three-year term on the Cemetery District Board of Trustees (121-11). And Nell Tharpe won the vacant three-year, at-large position on the Boothbay Region Water District Board of Trustees (117-15).

On a separate ballot, James Stormont and Sam Morris, seeking three-year and two-year terms, respectively, on the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District Board of Trustees, both won their seats unopposed (125-7 and 121-11).

Snyder asked Saturday’s voters to entertain a motion to take Articles 3 through 13 altogether, since they were standard, annual items. Voters unanimously agreed and then passed the articles, unanimously, without discussion.

Article 14 also passed unanimously. It authorized municipal officers to accept and appropriate gifts and donations to the town. The article prompted Linc Sample to air a concern stemming from talks about ordinance changes to Atlantic Avenue.

“Given the recent suggestion that a sizeable piece of property be purchased and donated to the town, is there a limit to this or, if such a thing were to happen, are we on the hook for a couple million dollars of a piece of property?”

Town Manager Tom Woodin replied, all Atlantic Avenue ordinance changes would face a town vote at a separate meeting.

“We’re going to have a special town meeting not only for the ordinance suggestions, but it might not be a bad idea at the same time to have some sort of warrant article that addresses that issue as well and have the town vote on that at the same time,” said Woodin.

Articles 15 through 19 passed unanimously and without discussion. They authorized the transfer of $50,000 from undesignated funds into the capital improvement reserve account (Article 15); appropriating estimated revenues of $1,100,146 to reduce the property tax commitment (Article 16); raising $2,901,852 for the remainder of municipal accounts (Article 17); designating $1,037,678 for lights, hydrants, refuse and Bayville/Isle of Springs accounts (Article 18); and designating $376,672 for support organizations.

Article 20 passed with Sample's lone "nay." The article amended the Peace and Good Order Ordinance to add that private fireworks be advertised two weeks ahead.

“This seems to be directed at one person,” said Sample. “… What's going to happen if somebody doesn’t put it in the paper? Send Bob Hasch there with a $25 ticket? It’s cheaper to pay for the ticket than it is the advertisement.”

Woodin explained, the ordinance would not prevent anyone from having fireworks and is not very enforceable, but serves as common courtesy for people with vulnerable family members or pets.

“We’re not going to chase people down for not placing an advertisement in the paper, but it would be preferred by the community to at least know it’s coming,” said Woodin.

“I understand that, but are we going to start legislating common courtesy," asked Sample.

Woodin replied the ordinance was included at the request of the boards and the town was welcome to vote as it saw fit.

The final two articles passed unanimously. Planning Board Chair Bill Hamblen clarified Article 21, amending minimum setbacks on Route 27, was changed only in language, not in intent or “practical application.” 

The accompanying video was provided by Boothbay Region TV.