Selectmen hired Harbormaster Rob Leavitt April 25 after the job sat unfilled for months. Town Manager Julia Latter said she made a conditional offer the morning of April 25, when the last of Leavitt’s preemployment tests and physicals came in.

Leavitt was patient, enduring a more thorough process than most harbormaster candidates go through, said Latter. “He's been to several rounds of interviews, meeting with myself and I did have the port committee come and have a talk with him as well. I feel very confident about putting this candidate before you.”

A visitor to the region for 25 years, Leavitt has lived in the Harbor for the past six years. He spent most of his professional life at Hewlett Packard in digital equipment, project management, training, program development and general operations.

“After I left that, I spent the last 15 years self employed as basically a jack of all trades – carpentry, plumbing, electric, you name it. I still have an active scuba diving license, get out there and kayak and recreational fishing and boating all the time … I grew up next to the water, so a lot of activity on the ocean.”

Leavitt said one of his life goals is to become a harbormaster and serve his community, the port and the general public, from the water. He said his first-year goal is gaining competency with the job and to make systemic improvements in areas like the online mooring program which will be on hold this year.

“I worked a couple positions many years ago and when this opportunity came up and after meeting with Julia and her team, the port committee, I'm very excited by the opportunity of this position … These are all things I can attend to and I have in the past. I'm a problem solver and I want to make a positive impact on the community.”

In related news, Deputy Harbormaster Derek Cola submitted his resignation and will be moving away, Latter said. Cola’s main duty was operating the town’s pump-out boat and program. Advertisements for the job are out with a 4 p.m. May 6 deadline.

The Boothbay Harbor-Damariscotta town planner job will also head back to advertisement as the prime candidate turned down an offer at the 23rd hour, said Latter. “We reached an employment agreement (and) were really excited about the hire, but unfortunately the candidate will not be able to join us because he's chosen to go elsewhere for a better offer.”

Latter said both towns have re-advertised the job and expect a two to three-week turnaround for applications and the start of reviews.

In an update on the footbridge project, Chair Mike Tomko said plans for an 80-foot ramp would give the potential for installing three public access floats instead of one without encroaching on private neighboring dockage. He suggested the town apply for the three floats even if the board decides to install just one; that way, the town could expand without a future permitting process if extra access is needed.

The annual town report has arrived from the printers and will be available at the town office, Bay Landing and St. Andrews Village, said Latter. The report will also be available at the May 7 annual town meeting.

Latter said Topsham's Crooker Construction would begin paving Pear Street and Road's End on May 2 and 3.