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Harbor Selectmen Okay July 19 Election And Special Town Meeting Questions
Barbara Freeman
Chairman Louis Burnham began Monday's Boothbay Harbor selectmen's meeting by announcing the sad news that long-time selectman and chairman Walter Reed had passed away the night before.
``He served this community above and beyond the call of duty,'' said Burnham. ``He served in a way that will probably never be duplicated.''
Because of this week's resignation of John O'Connell to take up a position as a county commissioner, there were only four selectmen present Monday: Burnham, Mary Lee Brown, Earl Brown, and Barbara Lorrain. All but one vote during the two-hour-plus meeting was unanimous. Discussions of several issues are covered in separate stories in this issue. A July Election
Town Manager Laurie Smith told the board, ``John O'Connell, as you know, has resigned from the board of selectmen.'' She has recently, therefore, reviewed the statutes regarding the procedures to follow when a vacancy occurs on the board.
The selectmen need to set a time for a town meeting, allowing at least 24 days for people to take out nomination papers and for the town to print up ballots.
When Earl Brown asked, ``Don't we have to accept his resignation?'' Smith told him, ``You don't have to accept the resignation of an elected official.''
``It would be nice,'' said Brown.
The board decided on a July 19 election date. Nomination papers are available from Town Clerk Pat Wheeler or Deputy Leah Sample at the town office from 10 to 3 every weekday except Wednesdays. The polls at the municipal building will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 19. A Special Town Meeting
June 28 is the date voters will be asked whether they wish to impose a moratorium on docks in the inner harbor pending the creation of an ordinance regarding such structures. A special meeting will be held in the municipal building at 7 p.m.
The board also approved a request from Harry Pinkham and Lewis Curtis, emergency preparedness director and deputy director respectively, to add an article asking voters if they want to establish an Emergency Management Agency at the local level. The office would be responsible for managing emergency preparedness operations and services in the event of a disaster. A New Clam Warden
Clammers were on hand Monday, but they arrived after the board elected Scott Giles at the request of the Shellfish Committee's lead town, Newcastle. At first Louis Burnham nominated the temporary acting deputy, Sidney Geier, but then withdrew his nomination.
``Apparently they have had some difficulties,'' said Town Manager Laurie Smith of the commission. ``They've been through a few shellfish wardens.''
According to resident Tom Carbone, the ``thankless job'' pays $15,000. He said the committee had already hired Giles when it sent the letter requesting approval.
``They're asking you to approve him so he can come into Boothbay Harbor and take care of your clam flats,'' he said. ``If the flats are closed the marine patrol takes care of them for us.''
The vote for Giles was unanimous.
In addition Brad Perkins requested to be appointed to the shellfish committee. His appointment was unanimously approved. Other Appointments
The board appointed the following planning and appeals board members:
There is still one opening -- an alternate position on the appeals board through 2001. A Tax Issue
Fred Pratt and Calista Boyd of the Board of Assessors were present to comment on a letter from Richard Thorpe of Annapolis, Md., who has corresponded for 13 years with town officials in an effort to have his West Boothbay Harbor property taxes adjusted.
``The temptation to scale up the assessed value of coastal property based on recent sales to out-of-state people with more money than brains puts long term shoreline and ocean view property owners in a terrible situation,'' he wrote last month to Chairman Louis Burnham.
He is considering taking his case to the county level but wrote that he hopes the selectmen can correct the problem which he sees as ``potentially embarrassing to the town.''
``The only thing is he wants us to lower his taxes,'' Fred Pratt told the board. The family has owned property for over 100 years and, added Pratt, ``He wants to keep it pristine, but he doesn't want to pay taxes on it.''
Mary Lee Brown said, ``We have no jurisdiction to say or do anything.'' She said he doesn't seem to understand the formula by which taxes are determined that he would need to go to the county commissioners if he has a complaint; the town can only provide tax abatements. She noted that the town's revaluation should be completed in 2000.
Calista Boyd said the assessors have informed Thorpe of the procedure for tax abatement and have explained that taxes are not based on sale price.
``He's assessed the same as everybody in his whole area,'' said Pratt. ``We have written him a letter and explained everything.''
Brown said the assessed value doesn't change; but the tax rate does. She suggested sending him an abatement form, telling the assessors, ``You shouldn't look at him unless he files the form.... It states that if he's not happy he can go to the county.'' A Quitclaim Deed
The selectmen unanimously approved a quitclaim deed for property owner Richard LeDuc. The town foreclosed on the property last December for taxes not paid in 1996.
LeDuc asked if he could buy back the property for all taxes owed. Smith will deliver the quitclaim deed when the taxes are paid. | |
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