Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay selectmen will meet in the Harbor May 31 to discuss the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District charter. The boards met May 11 in Boothbay and identified some short-term goals on language changes, and a longer term goal to make the CSD annual budget a referendum rather than a public meeting vote.

Selectman Denise Griffin said May 23, the previous meeting brought up no new information, but the two towns agreed on the substance of their goals.

“We have a pretty much 100% consensus approach to move forward with suggesting or putting charter changes on the ballot in November. The major changes there would be that … all school budgeting is voted on in the ballot box.”

Griffin said the group will likely discuss other changes and Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler and CSD trustees and committee members have been invited to the meeting. Wording would have to be finalized by Labor Day to have enough time for public hearings and to make the November ballot, noted Griffin and Chair Mike Tomko.

Said Griffin, “We'll see what other suggestions other people have, but we'll have pretty much the summer to work on the detailed wording changes.”

Town Manager Julia Latter said Gartley and Dorsky has secured a firm to do a construction cost estimate Maine Department of Transportation requested on the footbridge project. About 90% of civil work is done and electrical and plumbing drawings are in final review stages.

“They're currently working on the structural set and project manual hoping to have a package … by June 3,” said Latter. “We are progressing at a good rate of speed according to what we had originally planned.”

Latter said Gartley and Dorsky hopes for work to start in the off-season and be done in fall or winter.

Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta have received one application for the shared town planner job, said Latter. The hiring board consists of Latter, Tomko, former Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission planner Bob Faunce, Damariscotta's outgoing Town Manager Matt Lutkus and one Damariscotta selectman. The board will meet with the candidate for a review Wednesday, she said.

Boston Post Cane recipient Robert Hanley Jr. has died, Latter told selectmen. The town sends condolences to Hanley's family, she said. “(Timothy Hanley) did comment it was his father’s last best day and a great honor for him to receive the cane,” Latter said.

Town Clerk Michelle Farnham will accept nominees for the Boston Post Cane until June 17.

After an executive session on personnel matters, selectmen approved a three-year contract extension for Latter.