How to charge vendors at Wiscasset’s town-owned piers? Selectmen decided April 18. 

 

Resident James Kochan took issue with the proposal to charge less for non-building space than for the space buildings take up, and to charge less than other space in town leases for. He said the proposed $5 a square foot should apply with or without a building, and whether or not Sprague’s Lobster on Main Street Pier restricts use of picnic tables. It does not, owner Frank Sprague and waterfront committee member Richard Forrest said April 24, and Forrest told selectmen April 18.

 

The tables prevent rental of that space to another vendor, Kochan told selectmen in the public hearing. “This is bad business all around ... This is prime waterfront property,” he added later in his points. 

 

Forrest said of the tables, “(Sprague is) doing it as a benefit for the town and for all concerned down at the waterfront.” And if more vendors wanted pier space, Forrest said, there would be no picnic tables. “We’d fill it up with buildings. But (more vendors) just do not appear.”

 

“Sad to say, without Sprague’s and Red’s Eats, this town, in the village, could pretty much dry up and blow away in the middle of summer, because of the traffic,” committee chair Susan Robson said. Sprague’s is a watchdog for the pier, answering questions, looking after some of the other businesses, and troubleshooting, she said. “And I think that has value. And I think that’s a lot of why people want to live in a small town in Maine, is because we are all neighbors. And if that gets you a little bit of favor or ... perceived  ... favor, then more people ought to be generous.”

 

The board voted 3-2, Terry Heller and James Andretta opposed, to go with $5 a square foot for a building and $3 a square foot for other space. A next-day letter from Town Manager Dennis Simmons to vendors, and shared with Wiscasset Newspaper by Robson April 24, stated: “All vendors with buildings will now be charged based on the square foot size of the building. The fee is $5.00 per square foot of building space. Any additional designated non-building space (e.g., designated picnic areas for use of vendor patrons only) shall be $3.00 per square foot of designated area. Items in a designated area must be easily removable and not permanently mounted. Winter storage is now a separate flat fee and will be $400 per building.”

 

According to the April 18 discussion, the fees apply to both Main Street Pier and the recreational pier, where a planned oyster vendor would be charged $3 a square foot for a cordoned off space with no building.

 

As for the picnic tables discussed April 18 in relation to Sprague’s, Forrest explained via email April 24, “There are no picnic tables specifically reserved for Sprague’s. They are all for the general public. There is no section cordoned off or any signage indicating these tables are reserved for customers of Sprague’s ... If Sprague’s wants to have one area cordoned off for only their customers, they would be charged the $3 per square foot rate.”

 

In a phone interview April 24, Sprague said he has not yet brought in the picnic tables this season, but plans to keep the tables open to anyone. As for his rent rising what Forrest said was from last season’s $3,000 to $4,125 this year, Sprague said he would just have to deal with it. He added, he does not know how many more years he will keep the stand going. He is not getting younger, he said. 

 

Also setting several waterfront fees April 18, the board went with Selectman William “Bill” Maloney’s suggestion to add to the fee structure seasonal rentals for recreational boats on town-owned moorings. Right now it is only by the night, he said. He said the town will be taking some moorings back over “and also we might have a little loose cash to put a couple in, too.” He first suggested renting for $350 a season; Harbor Master Larry Hesseltine suggested $1,200 a season, adjustable depending on the number of months.

 

To Robson’s point the town now owns only three moorings, Maloney said, “If you don’t have it, you don’t have it, but at least you’ve got (the fee) in place.”

 

According to meeting documents and the board’s vote, the fees to use the Wiscasset Harbor launch are $10 a day for recreational boaters; $50 per season for residents and $100 per season for marine harvesters for unlimited use; and $300 a season for commercial use including haulers and charters; and canoes and kayaks, no charge. 

 

Also April 18, on a question from Peter Eaton, Simmons doubted repairs on the Wawenock building downtown will be done by May 1.

 

Selectmen created but did not yet empanel a climate action team; accepted the recently announced $500,000 Maine Department of Marine Resources grant toward the Old Ferry Road culvert project; accepted David Rollins’ offer to donate two small parcels in the area of Gorham and Old Gorham and Old Stage roads; and approved Corey Bachman for the ordinance review committee and Forrest, Donald James and Timothy James for the shellfish committee.

 

Selectman Dusty Jones said of the land donations, “The description of the brook and the picnic area sold me.”