Before selectmen from Damariscotta and Newcastle stepped into a second executive session in as many days, one Damariscotta selectman questioned if the second meeting was even necessary.

Selectman James Cosgrove asked both boards on Thursday, April 9, if making any changes to the two towns’ interlocal agreement was necessary, and if the towns would do better with separate departments of public works.

“After a great deal of thought, I don't think an interlocal agreement is right for our two towns,” Cosgrove said. “There are lots of other opportunities for us to work together.”

Cosgrove said that during the Wednesday, April 8 meeting between the two boards of selectmen, the needs of the two towns became apparent to him, and they didn't line up.

“As I started thinking about it, I realized that our towns have very different needs,” he said. “(Damariscotta) is a service center, with a downtown, and Newcastle is more rural, with country roads.

“Those aren't our needs. We need a public works director who is very much under the control of the town manager.”

The two boards have been hosting a discussion on the shared public works department, which goes under the moniker of the interlocal agreement. Claimed personnel and management issues have brought the two towns together to discuss the future of the agreement.

On Wednesday, different scenarios and proposed changes were floated, which included changing how much one town uses the department.

But Cosgrove said he felt that Damariscotta, despite having fewer miles of roads, would always command the bulk of the time-split.

“I don't think it could be a 50-50 split; I think we need (the department) more,” he said. “Besides maybe Wiscasset, there isn't another town in Lincoln County with an 'urban' center (like Damariscotta's).”

Superintendent of Roads Steve Reynolds said that while the two towns appear different, they are actually very similar in their needs.

“Yeah, Newcastle has seven miles of dirt roads, but the work that we do in Damariscotta is identical to the work we do in Newcastle,” he said. “We try to be as fair as possible.”

Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus said Damariscotta would be able to maintain its roads through the use of contractors, and maybe by partnering with the school district, should the interlocal agreement not be renewed.

“There have been several local contractors who have felt put-out since (the two towns started the interlocal agreement),” Lutkus said. “I think we could put together a dynamite program with the town's resources.”

Damariscotta Selectman Robin Mayer was against eliminating the interlocal agreement. She said that since the two towns banded together, not only have both towns been able to save money but have been able to take a proactive approach when it comes to road maintenance.

“When (the agreement) was presented to the town, it was said that both towns couldn't afford their own separate departments,” she said. “Since (its forming) we've been able to be proactive and not just with maintenance and repair.

“If we hire contractors, we lose that.”

Mayer said that some of the capital purchases — such as equipment, would need to be divvied-up between the two towns.

“We would have to have a divorce,” she said. “Who gets the trailer? Who gets the truck?”

Newcastle Selectmen’s Chairman Brian Foote was not in favor of going back to the prior set-up, where either town had its own department.

“I think for the most part, it has worked for both towns,” he said. “We're not as different as you think. I don't think you can afford it on your own, and not get the quality of the roads department we have now.”

Damariscotta Selectman George Parker said the interlocal agreement was first explored to see if it could work between the two towns.

“I think back then we said it was an experiment, and if it didn't work, it didn't work,” he said. “If it's just a personnel problem and the rest works, then maybe we move forward.”

While no decision was reached before the two boards moved into executive session to discuss personnel issues, both boards agreed to continue the agreement for the time being.

But Cosgrove said he would like to look into the agreement further to see if it was wise to keep the shared department.

“I think we at least owe it to the town to consider (ending the agreement),” he said.