Christmas came early for Boothbay Harbor Police Department this year as selectmen approved the purchase of a new cruiser, one of several pieces of good news for the department during the Dec. 11 selectmen’s meeting. Others included a $25,000 grant and success in recruiting efforts. 

“I'm really excited to see the future with this,” Police Chief Doug Snyder told the Register and later said his “vision is kind of coming true.” He said the department is getting the people it wants and will continue to recruit, focusing on newer officers, but the process takes time. He said the biggest challenge continues to be housing.

Selectmen approved an extended memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Lincoln County Sherriff's Department. Town Manager Julia Latter said the town has cut back on some hours because recruiting efforts have been successful. Snyder said he expects the department should be able to manage on its own by summer. In the meantime, he said three new officers will be sent to different levels of training, and he expects to ask less of the sheriff by March. The new MOU will be in effect from Jan. 1 to May 31 unless terminated early.

“I think this has worked out really well, it has been advantageous,” said Selectboard Chair Michael Tomko. “I've heard nothing but good comments. As you say, we have been requiring less and less from Lincoln County due to the recruiting efforts and the health of our police department and I think this gets us where this needs to be …"  

Selectmen approved $44,196 to purchase a 2023 Dodge Durango for the department. The cost does not include outfitting the vehicle for police work, but that money has been budgeted and is in reserve, according to Latter. Snyder said the vehicle will cost around $6,000 to outfit. Latter said the town is not going to trade in one of the existing three cruisers because the oldest has only 60,000 miles. She said it would be financially responsible for the town to get more miles out of them and an extra vehicle also allows more flexibility. 

Latter also announced the Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation recently awarded the police department a $25,000 grant for the Emergency Sign Program, which helps first responders locate an address with visible signage. Snyder said the funds will help people get signs.

In other business, Latter said Squirrel Island donated $1,000 to Boothbay Harbor Fire Department to thank it for its efforts in fighting the Nov. 19 fire on the island. The fire destroyed a maintenance building. Latter added, the island plans to make donations to all fire departments who responded. 

Planning Board Chair Tom Churchill gave the board an update on a subcommittee created out of a Nov. 30 joint workshop on town planning. The advisory group, made up of planning board and selectboard members, had several recommendations involving LD 2003. Suggestions included a general limit of one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per lot, allowing ADUs on commercial lots, and prohibiting tiny homes, RVs, trailers and boats from qualifying as ADUs. 

In a letter presented to the board, Churchill said the group anticipated many ADUs will become short-term rentals “which would not add to the availability of affordable or other (forms) of additional long-term housing.” They agreed it would be in the town’s best interest to require registration of short-term rentals, a fee and penalty for not registering and potential minimum health and safety standards.

Latter announced a town policy update allowing the town to hire immediate family members of employees, except a direct supervisor. She said the town has missed out on opportunities due to the old policy, including qualified police candidates, and it was generally a hurdle for the small community. According to Tomko, the new policy is not the result of a particular situation, has been reviewed by the town’s human resources attorney and is nothing out of the ordinary. 

“Everybody seems to be related to everybody and it’s hard when you have people who want to give back to their community but nobody can actually work here,” Latter said.