There wasn't much on the agenda for Monday night's Boothbay Harbor Board of Selectmen's meeting, but the board still found plenty to talk about, some of it in private.

Selectman Bruce Engert started the proceedings by noting that the official minutes from the last selectmen's meeting did not include any mention of Thomas Thompson's request to speak and his being "summarily dismissed" by the board's chairman. Engert asked that the official record be corrected.

Engert stated that the uniformed police officer, again in attendance, was not there at the request of the board. He moved that the board vote on the need for a police officer's presence during selectmen's meetings. Selectman Louis Burnham asked Town Manager Tom Woodin to explain why a police officer was again present. Woodin replied that some people had expressed a concern for people's safety and, referring to incidents in other parts of the country, remarked that "it's getting more violent out there." Woodin noted that the police officer was already on duty so there was no additional cost to the town.

Engert reaffirmed his position that the selectmen should be polled on the matter. Engert and selectman Robert Splaine expressed opposition to having a police presence during the meeting; Burnham and selectman Brian Schutrumpf said that they were in favor. Selectman Tom Carbone was not present. With the Board split, a decision on this matter awaits Carbone's return.

Woodin informed the board that the Port Committee has recommended that a general contractor be hired to assess needed repairs to the red building at the Fish Pier. Splaine recommended that this discussion be moved to the next meeting's agenda, so that he could first visit the site.

In other Fish Pier business, Woodin noted that the town had received an $18,000 grant from Maine DOT for piling replacement at the pier.

Splaine then moved that the Board immediately convene an executive session to discuss personnel matters. Woodin questioned this decision and stated that if the board were going to discuss any town employee, that person had a right to attend and a right to request the discussion be public. He stated further that if the discussion concerned him, he wished it to be public. Splaine said that the discussion was not regarding a person in the room, but personnel matters. Woodin again questioned the motion and suggested that the session "seems a little secretive." After further discussion, the board recessed in executive session for 25 minutes--with Woodin. Upon returning, Burnham announced that no decisions had been made during the session.

The town's budget was on people's minds during the public forum session. John O'Connell expressed concern about a proposed town budget that is nine percent higher than last year's. He noted the state's economic crisis and said, "I doubt it's escaped your notice that the last few years have not been particularly good for local businesses . . . So my question for you would be, where do you think the taxpayers are going to find this extra money for property taxes?"

Splaine echoed O'Connell's concerns and stated that he thought the proposed budget started too high. "I'm ready at the appropriate moment to say . . . we limit the budget to $7,570,000 . . . that would represent a five percent increase," he said.

O'Connell replied that a five percent budget increase would still be too much.

Engert said that although it was still premature for specifics, he was "prepared to lead the charge for at least a $350,000 decrease from that which is currently proposed."

Woodin noted that the "controllable" portion of the town's proposed budget was only up three percent and that the largest portion of those increases were proactive items, such as replenishing the town's undesignated fund.

Woodin said that the "hard decisions" on the budget hadn't been made as yet but soon would be. Splaine asked for assurance that the communication center budget would be on a secret ballot; Woodin assured the board that that would occur.

Denise Griffin, a budget committee member, noted the town's reliance on tax anticipation loans to operate and said that "We need to make some tough decisions on the budget . . . We need to work hard to dig ourselves out of this hole . . . We're spending faster than we are taking money in and that's a problem."

Julia Latter, Finance Officer, provided a financial update for the board. Latter reported that the town's bank balance as of February 8 was $699,185. She said that the town was $48,767 "to the good" compared to last year at this time. Schutrumpf asked for the town's anticipated cash balance at the end of the fiscal year. Woodin replied "zero" and noted that the town would need to rely on tax anticipation loans next year as well. Woodin said that he expected the town to need about $125,000 less in loans next year.

The next selectmen's meeting is scheduled for February 25.