The newly created blasting committee is drafting an ordinance with a goal of protecting property owners’ rights and local drinking water wells. Southport Planning Board Chairman Skip Simonds picked Jeff Long and Jeff Brown to lead the effort. The two co-chairmen sought selectmen’s advice Aug. 8 in drafting the ordinance and selecting a committee.

“We’re looking to assemble a committee with various interests. Maybe someone with blasting experience would be helpful. We want to protect private wells without being too restrictive. We need an ordinance palatable to everyone,” Brown said. 

The chairmen are reviewing other municipal blasting ordinances in developing one for Southport. “Boothbay Harbor adopted one recently that would be a good one to review and ask questions to their code officer,” Brown said. 

The chairmen are hoping to draft an ordinance by early December to meet legal requirements for a March town meeting vote. Selectman Smith Climo believed the new committee is in capable hands. “There is a lot to this, We appreciate you guys taking this on. I’m sure you two are the right guys for this,” Climo said. 

In other action, Darrell Gudroe and Town Clerk Donna Climo updated selectmen about the new phone and Wi-Fi systems being installed in the municipal building. Gudroe will install seven new phones and the Wi-Fi system will have both a public and private network. 

Selectmen agreed to send a letter supporting Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission’s pursuit of a federal housing grant. Selectmen also signed the Maine Department of Transportation Local Roads Assistance Program form. Gamage reported the town would receive about $18,000 to maintain local roads. “This is a payment in lieu of one for us plowing state roads in the winter,’ he said. 

Selectmen granted town hall use on Sept. 13 and 27 to the newly formed Southport Climate Action Team. Smith along with Claire Tomlin and Nick Ullo are team members. The team is helping Southport enroll in the Community Resilience Partnership. The program is sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Policy, Innovation, and Future to implement the state’s climate action plan called Maine Won’t Wait!  

Selectmen also approved two other town hall rentals. Shannon Leeman received approval for a Sept. 17 birthday party. Southport Yacht Club reserved the town hall as a rain location for the club’s Aug. 18 banquet.

Selectmen meet next at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16 in the municipal building.