The Boothbay Selectmen's meeting agenda on June 12 was stocked with contentious issues, including fireworks regulations, cellphone towers and discussions on what do with the Cross River Center, formerly known as the Smith property.

On May 13, the selectmen authorized Town Manager Jim Chaousis to accept public proposals for the Cross River Center, a 19-acre property the town acquired in 1998.

The townspeople voted in 2002 to retain the property for public access to the Cross River, but after 10 years of supposed inactivity, residents and selectmen are seeking other purposes for the property, causing a rift between those who want to sell it and those who want to retain it.

Steve Lewis, the board of selectmen's chairman, moderated the discussion over the future of the Cross River Center. Despite the board's impartial stance on a sensitive subject matter, emotions ran high.

“How can you even consider selling that piece of property, when that piece of property was voted at town meeting to (be retained)?” asked Doris Cunningham. Doris and her husband, Robert Cunningham, are the northern abutters of the Cross River Center.

The Cunninghams feel the property should continue to provide public access to the clam diggers, kayakers and hunters that they observe using the property.

“The reality is, we wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't look at all the options. We have to look out for the best interests of all the town,” Lewis said.

“The reality is, if you sell this piece of property and, let's say 15 years down the road someone gets the bright idea of what we could have done with this piece of property, it is gone. Once you sell it, it's gone,” Doris Cunningham said.

Lewis said the request for proposals is just a way to generate potential ideas. Townspeople have the final say of what to do with the property at the annual town meeting.

Estelle Appel of the Boothbay Civic Association, and Dawn Gilbert, whose property abbuts the southern end of the Cross River Center, agreed that all avenues should be explored, including finding grant money available for public projects and collaborative efforts with the Boothbay Region Land Trust.

Chaousis submitted the draft request for proposals to be reviewed by the selectmen. The draft includes a list of criteria the town recommends to applicants, including the ability to retain public access.

The town acquired the property in 1998 for $5,000 when the previous owner failed to pay their property taxes. Chaousis estimated the town has lost roughly $3,500 for every year the property has been left off the tax roll.