If Damariscotta wants to fund a new parking lot, it might have to look beyond the lot for funding.

At least, that was the main theme of a workshop between the town selectmen and the Twin Villages Alliance Wednesday, October 21.

The workshop was just the first in a planned series to discuss how funds will eventually be raised for parking lot improvements and reconstruction.

One option that has been brought up several times by the town was to implement paid parking, also called pay-for-parking, in the downtown area. Paid parking was the topic of the Oct. 21 workshop with the Twin Villages Alliance, which is made up largely of business owners, speaking out against the idea.

Selectmen’s Chairman Robin Meyer said reconstructing and refinishing the parking lot has been a topic in Damariscotta for at least half a decade.

“This issue has been rolling around since at least 2010 and as late as this summer,” she said. “(This summer) we had a representative give a presentation on kiosks that can be used.

“We've asked the Twin Villages Alliance to come here tonight to talk about the parking lot, and ways we can generate revenue (to pay for the improvements).”

Damariscotta had a representative from Cale visit the town to showcase a self-pay parking meter earlier in the year. But with the recent September storms causing floods in the parking lot, the time to begin thinking about changes has come, Meyer said.

“With storm surges and sea level rise, this is what everyone will be talking about,” Meyer said. “As we move along we will have discussions on how to raise the money for improvements, and one of the easiest ways to do that is pay-for-parking.”

Damariscotta broached the subject of paid parking in 2013 when the town used an Assistance with Specific Know-How grant to fund a study from University of Southern Maine Professor Tracey Michaud-Stutzman.

In Michaud-Stutzman's report she found that that paid parking was feasible in Damariscotta.

But during the Oct. 21 meeting, several people said not enough information was obtained through the study, and that pay-for-parking could generate revenue, but that in the long run it could cost the town more.

Twin Village Alliance's Mary Kate Reny said more information was needed before any decisions could be made in regards to funding.

“What we want is to share as much information as we can give you,” she said. “I think we should agree that the goal tonight is to just discuss (the pay-for-parking proposal) and not come to a decision.”

The Twin Villages Alliance commissioned a study that purported that if the parking lot was full, non-stop, it would generate approximately $84,000 per year from five parking kiosks. After subtracting costs associated with those kiosks and enforcement, the profit was calculated to be in the $47,000 to $56,000 range.

Bob Reny said the 2013 report was faulty in several ways, including its choice to compare Damariscotta to Newburyport, Massachusetts and Boothbay Harbor.

“I don't think there is any paid parking from Portland to Bar Harbor, except for Boothbay,” he said. “When you compare Boothbay to Damariscotta, they're two completely different towns. Boothbay has 40 restaurants, we have 12. Boothbay has 40 hotels, motels, inns ... We're not Boothbay Harbor.”

Reny said that Boothbay Harbor's parking situation of having numerous free spaces downtown combined with paid parking spots and the Harbor’s numerous cruises and excursions presented a different problem than what Damariscotta is facing.

“(If it was paid parking) why would you even come here? What have we got? I think we really need to take a good look at the alternatives because if (paid parking) is such a good idea, why aren't more towns doing it,” he said. “At our store in Portland the biggest complaint is paid parking. I know the town needs money, the mil rate is high, but I think (paid parking) will make a lot of people mad.”

Selectman George Parker said the town's taxpayers have to be considered as the project moves forward.

“Taxpayers have to pay a certain amount, but the lot is used by towns around here and yet Damariscotta taxpayers have to foot the bill,” he said.

The total cost of just reconstructing the lot is expected to be in the $1 million range, with some of the more extensive plans breaching the $2 million mark.

A once potential revenue stream could be drying up, Meyer said.

“We've been trying to find a way to make improvements (without raising taxes) but the grants are getting smaller, and further apart,” she said. “And now there's a lot of stiff competition with the (CLC) YMCA and Damariscotta River Association (seeking grants).”

Selectman Josh Pinkham implored the Twin Villages Alliance to assist the town in trying to solve the issue. The two boards will meet again in January.

“Help us out,” Pinkham said. “Help us find a solution to this problem.”