The Boothbay selectmen's decision to follow up on a meeting with the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor school committee was prompted by the appearance of Fred Lewis at their May 22 meeting.

"The taxpayers of the town of Boothbay are all the victims of one of the smoothest cons," began Lewis.

Lewis came before the board, and Channel 7, to chronicle the events that culminated in the taxpayers paying $100,000 in punitive damages levied against retiring Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Principal, Jack Tourtillotte, and former Superintendent of Schools, Mark Keegan.

The other two-thirds of the total amount was paid by insurance.

On February 27, Boothbay selectman Dan Harris and Town Manager John Anderson attended the CSD school committee meeting to discuss the sum and who should be liable for it.

At the meeting, Harris emphatically conveyed to the committee that the public should not be responsible for the punitive damages incurred by Tourtillotte and Keegan for actions that were deemed egregious by the court.

"When the court case came out in my favor, she had to come up with some kind of a reason to support them," Lewis said.

Lewis alleged that Superintendent Eileen King and the school committee "had to create a myth that there is something more to what took place than what actually happened" that would only be discovered through copies of the court transcript.

"In doing that, I was made a pawn. She has perpetrated this myth and successfully carried it off and will continue to," said Lewis. "I'm here to tell you that she knows, and she has always known that there isn't anything in the transcripts."

Lewis said that when he asked if the CSD had requested a copy of the transcript, he was told it had been three or four weeks and they [the CSD and superintendent] had not heard anything.

He followed this by saying that when his attorney called to request a transcript, he [Lewis's attorney] was told that a transcript of that case had never been requested.

"We were told that we could have a copy of the transcript within two weeks," said Lewis.

At the meeting this winter, CSD school committee chairman Larry Colcord told Harris and Anderson that the committee would be happy to meet with them once the transcripts were received.

Lewis said that since then, when he has approached the school committee, he has been told that they had to consult with the town attorney and, most recently, the committee wanted to move on and concentrate on the students.

"If you have any questions, about the trial, about anything, I will answer them. There is nothing in the transcript that the jury did not hear. Anyone can get a copy [for $20 to $25 per page]," said Lewis.

"I am here because I don't like being used as a pawn; my name was dragged through the mud. I thought this thing was all cleared up, but we are right back at it," said Lewis. "I have asked them to back up what they have said and I get nowhere."

Records of court proceedings are taken in shorthand and transcribed only if an appeal or a request is made for a copy(ies). Otherwise, they are filed away in shorthand form.

"It is not right for the taxpayers to foot this bill; you were misled and, if I were you, I would be outraged," Lewis said. "Only two people know for sure what happened - the superintendent and myself."

Board Chairman Chuck Cunningham said he did not believe the judge and jury would have come to their decision if there were more to the case; that information, if any, would have " … become known during the trial."

"I hear [from taxpayers] that if they can find $100,000 in the current budget to pay those damages, then they have been overcharging the taxpayers," Cunningham said.

All of the selectmen present acknowledged hearing from taxpayers about the infamous dollar amount.

Selectman Steve Ham asked if Harris was still going to follow up on the issue.

Anderson said that following the meeting with the school committee, " … at that point, my sense, and I think Dan's sense was there was not much else we could do because the settlement had already been agreed to."

"I have talked to Dan a little bit about it, and I know he has talked to Fred," Anderson said. "But, I don't have an answer."

Selectman Dale Harmon said he has heard about this issue around town and that it "… was something that we should look into - if we can pursue this. Or if the school board has just accepted responsibility, then our hands are tied."

Anderson said that since the committee had already taken the $100,000 from the current year's budget, and that the towns had already approved the next school year budget, "where do you go?"

"Ultimately, they have fiduciary responsibility - and town meeting - for the money. My sense is that the only people who can answer your questions is the school committee," said Anderson.

"If the records are never made public, they will never be held accountable," Lewis said.

Ham said "Maybe we should take this up at the next meeting when Dan returns to make the call and set up a meeting. They left the door wide open."

The selectmen agreed to continue the discussion, and possible course of action, to be taken on behalf of the taxpayers, at the June 9 meeting.

"Street signs are disappearing at an incredibly alarming rate, much greater than usual," said Anderson.

Anderson warned of the public safety issues that missing signs can lead to, particularly now when there is a total of 28 signs missing in the town of Boothbay alone.

Anderson said that after the 9-1-1 conversions, the town paid out a large amount of funds to ensure all the roads, some renamed, had street signs. Anderson said the town of Boothbay is "fast approaching" expending half of that initial cost, on an annual basis, to replace signage.

"If anybody in TV Land knows where these signs are, please return them," requested Anderson. "There are no penalties if you return them."

"The real tragedy is for the ambulance, fire department and police," said Ham. "If it takes any of these groups another five or ten minutes, in situations where every minute counts, to find a house - especially with so many retirees living here - it makes a situation even more difficult."

"I think we all believe we are invincible when we are young, but as we get older we realize we are not," Anderson said. "We try to be sure that all of our emergency personnel are given the most up-to-date maps, but having a sign up sure makes things easier, particularly in emergency situations."

Anderson announced that Kyle Crewse was hired to fill the full-time laborer position at the public works department as of May 5.

All the town docks and floats are in and ready for the summer season.

Vandals destroyed the new and restored picnic table at Knickerbocker Lake - it was found in pieces the day after it was installed.

"It is very discouraging when this happens," said Anderson. "We would encourage anyone riding around and see any signs of damage to town property or equipment, by all means give us a call here [at the town office]."

Anderson said that trash is being dumped along the access road. The public works crew is there once or twice a week, as is Geoff Smith. Those dumping at this site are asked to stop.

Kudos to Chuck Fuller for his "dive and find" of the line for the town's mooring chain that holds the float in place near Washburn & Doughty.

Anderson thanked the following individuals for their contribution that resulted in the sprucing up of the East Boothbay War Memorial in time for the holiday weekend: Jim Berhinger of Harbor Print Shop, Jeff Brown of White Signs, Hodgdon Yachts and Munro Dodge.

Anderson has been re-elected as the vice president of the Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee representing District 20 (Lincoln County north to Belfast.) This is his fifth term on the committee that spans the time period of July 2008 through June 2010.

Code Enforcement Officer Marian Anderson is now a member of the Maine Municipal Association Health Trust board. Anderson serves on the executive committee.

The selectmen approved Dianne M. Ward's innkeeper renewal license. Ward is the owner/innkeeper of the Kenniston Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast located at 988 Wiscasset Road.

A restaurant and lounge (Class XI) malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license was approved for Joan and Daniel Mills, owners of Smuggler's Cove Inn and Restaurant at 727 Ocean Point Road in East Boothbay.

The renewal of the innkeeper's license at The Boothbay Resort (The Vintage House Cottages), located at 301 Adams Pond Road, held by owners Lori and Win Mitchell was approved.

The renewal of the innkeeper's license for Water's Edge Motel & Cabins was approved for Anthony M. Rando, manager of the property located at 545 Ocean Point Road in East Boothbay.

Also approved was the renewal of the innkeepers license for Carl and Donna Jordan, owners of the White Anchor Motel, 609 Wiscasset Road in Boothbay.

The next regular meeting of the board of selectmen is Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at the town office.