While most other local meetings were cancelled due to Monday's snowstorm, the Boothbay Harbor selectmen dealt with a full agenda, much of it related to weather.

Bonnie Stone, Opera House Development Officer, appeared before the board regarding a community development block grant that they are applying for, which the town would be accepting on behalf of the Opera House. Community development grants are federal dollars that are released to municipalities for specific local improvements. The Opera House is applying for $71,000 to replace the 1930's era roof and to remove the existing, deteriorating asbestos roof. Stone said that the Opera House had already obtained a roofing contractor and had sufficient funds to cover the 25 percent grant match. The board agreed to accept the grant, should it be awarded, on behalf of the Opera House.

The exceedingly snowy winter has created parking and snow removal problems for the Boothbay Harbor Department of Public Works and police department. DPW Director Jody Lewis was on vacation last night; resolution of many issues was deferred until his return.

Derek Abbott expressed concern about the Boothbay DPW's refusal to help extricate a Boothbay Harbor DPW truck, which had become stuck in front of a residence. Abbott said that he had used his own pickup truck to try and pull out the town's truck, which caused damage to his truck. He expressed concern that he had not even been thanked for his efforts. Town Manager Tom Woodin said that he had met with Boothbay's town manager and the directors of both towns' DPWs to ensure better cooperation between the towns in the future. Woodin said that he was unaware of Abbott's involvement or the damage to his truck.

Abbott also said that he had contacted the communications center regarding an icy road situation, and that a DPW employee in a personal vehicle had responded. He and selectman Bruce Engert questioned the response by another employee when DPW Director Lewis lived nearby. "Why didn't Jody respond? And if he didn't respond to an emergency, why does he have a town truck?" asked Engert. Woodin suggested that these questions could not be answered without Lewis. Selectman Tom Carbone recommended that these items be added to the next meeting agenda when Lewis returned.

Woodin reported that he and Lewis had reviewed and adjusted the DPW's operating budget. The third snowiest December on record and the occurrence of most storms during nights, weekends, and holidays have put a large strain on DPW's snow removal budget. Woodin has revised this year's DPW budget from $55,362 to $109,877. Engert suggested that some DPW employees could be moved to night shifts during the snow season to reduce overtime costs associated with nighttime plowing. Woodin responded that there were a variety of approaches that could be taken to reduce plowing overtime costs, but that he thought it appropriate to wait for Lewis' return to discuss this further.

Engert stated that he had received about a dozen phone calls regarding snow removal, snow parking bans, and overnight parking bans. He said that town ordinance establishes the overnight parking ban from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., and that enforcing the ban at 9 p.m. was inconsistent with town law. He also said that merchants struggling to keep open year round find that patrons are reluctant to come to Boothbay Harbor because of fear of being ticketed. Questions were also raised about enforcement and warning flyers being placed on cars for violating the two-hour parking ban and the effects on local merchants. Woodin agreed that he has been hearing from many regarding these issues and that "what we have been actively enforcing doesn't jibe with the code." Woodin suggested that the parking ordinances and bans needed to be revisited and clarified.

Police Chief Robert Hasch said that he, too, had received many phone calls and that the police had only issued six parking tickets, all during storms. He said that consideration had to be given to the difficult job that the plows face.

Rendle Jones asked, "What winter parking bans?" and noted that a person would not necessarily know that a ban was in effect. Engert and selectman Robert Splaine agreed that some type of inexpensive signage could help alleviate confusion. The board decided to direct the DPW to create and post signs to clearly define winter parking bans. Further clarification of parking ordinances and their enforcement is expected.

Woodin asked the board's approval for a tax anticipation loan of $675,000, which will need to be paid by the end of this fiscal year. Splaine asked for the history of tax anticipation notes. Woodin replied that in recent years the town had typically taken out two loans per year for a total of about $1 million. Julia Latter, Finance Officer, said that this year, the town needed to borrow $200,000 less than last year. Woodin said that to reduce time and processing costs, next year he would recommend that the town take out just one loan. The board voted to approve the loan.

In addition to the DPW budget changes, Woodin reported other adjustments to the current budget. The increases in expenses include $13,500 for loan interest, $15,000 for legal aid, $5,600 for heating fuel, and a $1,550 adjustment to the Bayville/Isle of Springs rebate. Woodin noted that the town has never sought reimbursement from the state for 90 percent of the costs of the harbor pump-out program. He said that he conservatively set these additional revenues at $15,000. Woodin also now estimates that the state revenue sharing budget was projected about $20,000 too high; these revenues have been reduced accordingly. Overall, these adjustments account for $75,000 in additional expenses and $300 in additional revenue. Woodin reported that the end of the year budget was $25,090 in the black.

In other business, the board approved Chief Hasch's request to hire John Farrow as a part-time reserve police officer and Beth Barter as a full-time dispatcher for the communication center. Chief Hasch reported that the BHPD has been recognized by the state for its successes with elder fraud and elderly outreach. He noted that through the efforts of the local TRIAD, particularly Deb Mullen, free 911 cell phones are available to the elderly and other citizens in need.

The board also approved victualers' and malt and vinous licenses for the Bistro and the Russell House, and signed a consent agreement with Jeff DiMauro.

The next board of selectmen's meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 28.