Boothbay’s municipal warrant public hearing Feb. 26 created a different moment from a couple years ago for one selectman After hearing Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library’s request for $55,500, up $1,500 from the past appropriation, Selectman Steve Lewis said: “I don’t understand how you can afford to keep your employees on what you  pay them.” Lewis praised Library Director Joanna Breen and the one part-time and three full-time employees for their outstanding service to the entire community.

“Don’t get me wrong. I think you all do a wonderful job, but looking at your budget I don’t know how you can keep your staff with what you pay them,” he said. Despite the unexpected question, Breen had a prompt response for the selectman who a couple years earlier wondered if Boothbay should withhold library funding after trustees borrowed money without a formalized plan for repaying the loan. “I’d like to address that,” Breen said. “We’ve lucked out with staff who are passionate about their jobs and who all have a strong commitment to the community.”

But Lewis’ question may result in a larger financial contribution request next year. BHML Board President Pauline Dion asked Lewis if the selectmen wanted to see a larger request next year. Lewis responded: “If justified.” He also remarked how impressed he was seeing library staff involved with community organizations such as Joint Economic Development, chamber of commerce and other civic organizations. “You just haven’t seen anything like that in past years. It’s really good to see,” he said.

Later Lewis seemingly had another change of heart considering a request from LifeFlight Foundation for $780. In previous years, selectmen declined to place LifeFlight’s municipal request before voters. In past years, Lewis has been the most vocal opponent of funding the non-profit group which provides emergency medical flight transportation throughout the state. LifeFlight brings lifesaving staff and equipment to patients by helicopter, airplane and ground ambulance, and provides emergency medical training to Maine’s hospitals, emergency medical services, and public safety agencies. 

This year, LifeFlight Board of Directors president Thomas Judge of Tenants Harbor made the municipal request. In 2019, LifeFlight transported 2,237 patients including six from Boothbay. Last year’s  emergency operations included mass transports resulting from the Farmington propane explosion transporting several firemen for medical attention. Two hundred twenty-four Maine communities donated funds last year based on a formula weighted on population. Judge estimated the contribution was “about a quarter per person.”  But small community donations ultimately result in larger contributions from other sources. “Towns are incredibly important as every little bit helps, but they also help us leverage larger private corporate donations which helps us purchase planes, helicopters and expensive medical equipment,” Judge said.

Selectmen were only listening to non-profit requests for funding during the hearing. The board votes on all warrant articles March 11, but Lewis commented after Judge’s presentation he would support LifeFlight funding this year.

Five other non-profit groups sought either a larger municipal or first-time contribution from Boothbay. Boothbay Region Ambulance Service requested $295,652, $26,959 more than last year. BRAS serves Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport. Each town contributes annually based on population and a three-year call volume average. BRAS board president Rob Ham reported 816 emergency calls were made to the Boothbay region along with 420 transfers and 62 paramedic interfacility transfers.

This year’s total budget is $1,353,297.35. Each town has the same 10.06% increase request. “This is the first time I can remember all three towns with the same increase,” Ham said.  The ambulance service reported last year difficulty finding qualified emergency medical technicians due to a statewide shortage. The service tried to entice new applicants with better pay and benefit packages, but changed course midway through 2019. “We are now offering more on a per diem basis because our other plan just didn’t attract full-time EMTs,” he said.

Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Cemetery District requested $19,000, a $1,000 increase. The district is responsible for 11 cemeteries (nine in Boothbay and two in Boothbay Harbor). Cemetery District member Stanley Lewis of Boothbay explained the increase was for expanding Evergreen Cemetery and repairing gravestones. 

The Community Center in Boothbay Harbor received $3,500 from Boothbay last year. The center is doubling its request to $7,000 for 2020. Board members Sandra Leonard and Shawn Lewin explained the Community Center now in its sixth year had expanded its offerings which now included a full-time staff person. “We’ve become a victim of our own success,” Leonard said. “We’ve doubled our budget and now have 20 volunteers and the center is open daily.”

One new program is providing used durable medical supplies. The center is part of a statewide effort to donate used medical goods in an attempt to save money on medical costs. The program provides used walkers, hospital beds and other items no longer needed by patients. Leonard reported the center had 4,000 visits last year from Boothbay residents. “We don’t charge for any of our programs. This works out to about $2 per visit and I hope you see the value in our services,” Leonard said.

Hamilton Meserve represented the Harbor Theater which made its first-ever municipal request to Boothbay for $1,050. In 2017, the Friends of Harbor Theater took ownership of the Boothbay Harbor movie house. The theater is now operated as a non-profit movie house showing first-run releases, art and independent films, festival winners and classic revivals. Meserve explained the theater recently obtained  501(c) (3) status as a nonprofit and can now accept municipal donations. “We’re offering free Saturday morning movies because we found it’s very expensive for a family of five. So the $1,050 will help us pay for three films with the goal of providing nine total,” Meserve said.

Lewin also represented Spectrum Generations of Damariscotta. Boothbay didn’t provide the nonprofit a municipal contribution last year. Spectrum Generations requested $1,415 for the next fiscal year. Spectrum Generations has eight locations in central and southern Maine. The Damariscotta chapter provides programming to Boothbay Harbor’s Community Center. “They provide extensive programming on senior care and for assisting Alzheimer patients,” Lewin said. “I am more familiar with their work in the Bangor area where I was a volunteer for a dozen years. They provide respite care and support for the senior population and the benefits are extremely worthwhile.

Another first time request came from the Community Band. Diane Randlett of Southport requested $1,000 to pay for a stipend for director Jeff Waldrop and expenses for hosting Maine’s annual R.B. Hall Day. In 1981, Gov. Joe Brennan declared June 27 Robert B. Hall Day. Hall lived in Bowdoinham and was a contemporary of John Philip Sousa. Both men were renowned composers of march music. In June, the Boothbay region is hosting up to 18 community bands at Boothbay Region Railway Village in Boothbay hosting R.B. Hall Day. For years, the Community Band has performed at the Grand March, Memorial Day parade and Windjammers Day. “We’re just looking for a little bit of money to defray expenses like tents for the R.B. Hall Day,” Randlett said.

Selectmen will continue their review of proposed town ordinances and warrant articles during the next public hearing and select board meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 in the municipal building’s conference room.