By Beth David, Editor
The Selectboard received quite a bit of comment from the public on a proposed Eagle Scout project in Little Bay at its meeting on Monday, 3/12.
Alex Sylvaria told the board that he wanted to work on the old stone building near the parking lot at the end of Little Bay Road, which is also along the Little Bay extension of the bike path.
Mr. Sylvaria said he wanted to remove the roof, which has mostly collapsed, clean up the building and site, and add picnic tables and a bike rack. The Building Commissioner has deemed the structure sound, and the Board of Public Works has already approved the project. Mr. Sylvaria said he wanted to start this spring, but it depends on the Boy Scout council, which has to approve the project.
All three selectboard members voiced support for the project.
Mr. Sylvaria also said he would ask for various groups to donate portions of the project. He will consult with the Conservation Commission to make sure he plants only native species.
Sallie Lou Johnson spoke against the plan, telling the board that she was not against the work itself, but simply felt that the vandalism in that spot has never been properly addressed. She said she felt that all his hard work would quickly be destroyed. She said there was graffiti, and that signs and other town property had been stolen or destroyed, and the parking lot and Little Bay Road have never been maintained.
She said Highway Department Superintendent John Charbonneau made it clear he had no intention of continuing to repair the fence.
Although there are “no dumping” signs, there is plenty of dumping going on she said.
“I’m not against this,” said Ms. Johnson. “I’m just wondering how long it’s going to last.”
She said the vandalism has been terrible for 22 years.
“It’s really sad,” said Ms. Johnson, adding that the vandals come out of the woods, so no one sees them. “It just doesn’t seem like it’s a wise choice.”
She said if they try to lock it up, it will just be a challenge to the vandals. If the police would patrol there more often, she said, it might help.
Frank Coelho said that enforcement might help, but there had to be follow-through. He noted that police issued a ticket for dumping in the area that had never been paid.
“You can’t fault the police. They did their job,” said Mr. Coelho, but the ticket has been “sitting there” since 2012.
He said he supported the idea, and wanted the town to save the old stone building. He said he believed it was an historic building and the town could not afford to build one like it now.
Mr. Coelho is also chairperson of the Marine Resources Committee and said the MRC also supported the idea.
Board of Public Works chairperson Mike Ristuccia also spoke in favor of the project. He said his committee supported it and offered to help in any way they could.
He said the town could set up surveillance cameras.
“It only takes a few to get caught to stop it,” said Mr. Ristuccia.
Selectboard member Daniel Freitas said he felt that when a problem property is cleaned up, people show respect for it. He said they could also ask the police department to step up enforcement.
Ms. Johnson said she believed that young people are too smart and they would see the cameras.
“We don’t know if it is young people,” said Selectboard member Charles Murphy. “It could be middle-aged people.”
“Okay, vandals,” said Ms. Johnson.
“If we let the vandals win and we just do nothing, then who is the winner?” said Mr. Murphy
“I don’t agree with you, sir,” said Ms. Johnson, noting that the problem has been going on for 22 years
Selectboard chairperson Bob Espindola said that if Mr. Sylvaria was willing to put in the effort, then the board should support it. He said he agreed that “sprucing up” the property would help to dissuade people from vandalizing it.
“We can’t let the vandals take over,” said Mr. Coelho.
The board voted unanimously to support the project. Mr. Sylvaria will meet with them again before he starts to go over the details.
There was also a bit of discussion on the Town Clerk Study Committee’s decision to recommend changing the Town Clerk from an elected to an appointed position.
Committee chairperson Ann Richard told the board that they had just decided that evening, within minutes of the Selectboard meeting, so they did not have a report prepared. She asked to be placed on a future agenda to discuss their findings.
Ms. Richard said her committee did a lot of research and she wanted to make sure it was all in a report they could look at before they discussed the vote, which was split at 5-3.
Mr. Freitas said his mind had not changed, that he was against the position being appointed because voters will lose their voice. He said if voters are not happy with the job a Town Clerk is doing, they can vote him or her out.
“We’re not ready tonight,” said Ms. Richard.
TC Committee member Bernard Rodericks told the board that he was sure there would also be a “minority report” for them to read.
When Mr. Coelho tried to give his opinion, he was stopped by Mr. Espindola who said the public would be able to comment at a future meeting.
“When you were sitting on this side, you said they never let you speak,” said Mr. Coelho, noting a campaign issue of Mr. Espindola’s when he ran for office the first time.
The two spoke over each other for a bit, with Mr. Espindola saying the public would get a chance at the next meeting.
Mr. Freitas said it was “just an appointment” to find out what was going on.
The agenda item was under appointments with 15 minutes allotted for it.
Mr. Coelho did manage to get a complaint in about the online survey, though, saying one of the sections made no sense, before the board closed discussion and the TC Committee left.
The board was also supposed to hear from Matthew Loo about his proposed oyster farm in Shaw’s Cove, which garnered strong opposition from abutters when it first went before the board. Mr. Loo withdrew his request due to a decision by the Marine Resources Committee to set up a designated area for aquaculture. Mr. Loo will be able to resubmit his application and will get preference.
Robert “Hoppy” Hobson was also scheduled to meet with the Selectboard to appeal a decision by the Harbormaster to remove him from the lobster basin at Union Wharf.
The letter was sent not longer after Mr. Hobson joined a chorus of voices from the waterfront complaining about perceived special treatment for Northeast Maritime Institute in getting a spot for its boat at Union Wharf and a mooring for the tall ship Fritha.
The letter revoked Mr. Hobson’s permit at Union Wharf citing the percentage of time his slip was empty in the past year.
Mr. Hobson was prepared to fight the expulsion and told the Neighb News that he planned to attend the meeting with his attorney.
On the day of the meeting, he said he got a call with the assurance that he would not be removed from the basin. Mr. Hobson would not speculate as to why the town reversed its decision.
Town Administrator Mark Rees said that Mr. Hobson agreed to use the slip and comply with all other regulations for the basin, so his slip was restored to him. Mr. Rees did not give a reason for the last minute call to resolve the situation. He said was the Harbormaster’s letter and he made the call.
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