Before it has even started, community discussions about Damariscotta’s municipal parking lot have garnered some heated exchanges.

At the November 6 selectmen’s meeting, the board approved Mark Eyerman to facilitate the upcoming meeting by a vote of 4-1.

The town will pay Portland-based Planning Decisions' President Eyerman $1,600 to facilitate the November 13 and 21 meetings.

But not all of the board was pleased with the decision. Second vice chairman Vicki Pinkham cast the lone dissenting vote against having the facilitator come to the Twin Villages.

Pinkham said she was worried about neutrality and the potential cost involved with paying someone to facilitate the first two of what could be many meetings.

But board chairman Josh Pinkham said the money would only be given for the November 13 and 21 meetings.

“Two is it for me,” he said.

The board also discussed ways to delineate between residents and non-residents for what is expected to be a contentious meeting.

The November 13 and 21 meetings will begin at 5 p.m. and wrap up at 7 p.m. at Great Salt Bay School. The public is asked to join the discussion about ways to fund the large municipal lot along the water in Damariscotta.

One possibility mentioned was to turn the lot into a pay-for-parking lot, although nothing yet has been decided.