Boothbay Harbor has selected Chesterfield Associates of Westport Island to begin temporary bracing and repairs to the footbridge. The Phase I temporary repairs are expected to be done by Feb. 15, 2017. Bids for Phase II work, to remove and reconstruct the swing span, is a separate packet of bids expected to go out soon.

Three contractors submitted bids for the initial work, including Fuller Marine of Boothbay Harbor, Prock Marine of Rockland, and Chesterfield Associates. Chesterfield’s base bid of $48,192 was the lowest. Also in the bid packet was a request for alternate services for expediting the job, to be done by Nov. 23. Chesterfield submitted a bid totaling $18,753 for the alternate work. 

Town Manager Tom Woodin, in consultation with Baker Design Consultants of Freeport, included the alternate bid because of public interest in having the footbridge opened in time for the Festival of Lights. However, he said, “For that additional amount of money, I don’t think it’s worth rushing it to get it done that quickly. I would recommend at this point, given those three bids, that the board accept the bid from Chesterfield Associates.” 

Chairman Denise Griffin asked Chesterfield representatives, “If we don’t move ahead with the expedited portion of the job, you would get the whole job done by Feb. 15, and possibly before?” 

“Correct,” said Davies Allan, spokesman for Chesterfield Associates. 

Selectman Russ Hoffman asked Town Manager Woodin, “You’re recommending that we don’t move forward with the $18,700 expense?”

“It doesn’t make financial sense,” Woodin answered. “I know that some people would like to have had it open for the Festival of Lights. My opinion is that it isn’t cost-effective.”

“The meeting three weeks ago left me feeling a lot of interest from people to get it open,” Hoffman said. 

Selectman Wendy Wolf asked, “Do we know how much decorating and participation the far side of the harbor is doing?”

“The majority of places are closed,” said Woodin. He also pointed out that inclement weather could be a factor. “If it’s cold and windy, I’m not walking the footbridge,” he said. “I’m driving around it.”

“It’s a tough decision,” Selectman Michael Tomko said. “We’ve heard at other meetings that we have one opportunity to make one great first impression, but we are also responsible to our taxpayers.”

“It would be wonderful to have the footbridge up and running for that length of time. But I think it’s a lot of money. I’m leaning toward the base number,” Selectman Tricia Warren said.

The final suggestion on the subject came from a member of the public, Bruce Engert, who said, “I was initially vocal with this footbridge repair, and I’m disappointed that the board hasn’t been able to react, respond, and repair this footbridge before making a decision tonight. But I applaud what I’m hearing from you, that it is economically a mistake. I am fully behind the town manager.” Engert also suggested that the town consider leasing a trolley for a day to transport visitors, round trip, from the west to the east side of Boothbay Harbor.

“I move that we award this job to Chesterfield to include the expedited opening by Nov. 23,” Hoffman said, recalling the enthusiasm from citizens regarding that date. Tomko seconded the motion. But Griffin, Wolf, and Warren voted against it, and it failed. 

Warren introduced a second motion. “I motion to award Chesterfield Associates’ bid for completion by Feb. 15, for $48,192,” she said. The motion carried, 3-2.

Toward the end of the meeting, Griffin brought up the recent passage of the state ballot question regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana.

A yes vote narrowly passed the measure, and as of Monday night, opponents were gathering signatures to petition a recount.

Several municipalities, including Bangor, Brewer, Gray,and Westbook have passed moratoriums on recreational-use marijuana retail shops, social clubs, and cultivation of the plant, to allow time to figure out how to move ahead with the new law in mind.

“In the interest of transparency,” Griffin said, “I asked the town manager and codes enforcement officer to research how we might prepare as a town. It’s important to examine our zoning ordinances, because we don’t have any zoning pertaining to this.” She suggested the planning board might be involved in making recommendations on zoning as well.

“Healthy Lincoln County, which has substance abuse prevention partnerships, is interested in meeting with town boards to offer help from a public health perspective,” said Wolf. “It might be good for us to reach out and to have coordinated ideas as we grope our way through this.”