Westport Island reviews liquor license, charitable requests

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 7:45am

Richard DeVries, chair of the Wright Landing committee, told Westport Island selectmen Monday, one bid was received to paint the outbuildings and trim on the house. DeVries will seek other estimates over the next week.

DeVries, who also serves as a Regional School Unit 12 board member, confirmed to the Wiscasset Newspaper that $719,266.54 has been proposed as the town’s portion of the school budget.

A public hearing on the school budget and a proposed bond will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 17 at Chelsea Elementary School, 566 Togus Road. Voting on both and for the island’s second selectman will take place by secret ballot Saturday, June 12 at the town hall.

Jason Kates, board member of the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department, reported that the department had responded to a brush fire off West Shore road that evening. Kates said the fire may have started at a Central Maine Power pole. The department used foam and an entire tank of water to put out the fire.

Selectmen approved a liquor license for the Squire Tarbox Inn. The application was made by Michelle Adams and William Dalton of Texas on behalf of their company LISMI Joint Venture, LLC. 

Selectmen reviewed charitable organizations’ requests for contributions. Some will go on the warrant the June 23 town meeting. Amounts approved Monday were Midcoast Maine Community Action - $420; Healthy Kids - $1500; Maine Public Broadcasting Network - $100 and Lifeflight of Maine - $150.

Other requests are pending further information. The selectmen determined that to qualify for consideration, organizations should be able to provide an income statement and show how local residents benefited.

Selectmen reviewed an email request from resident E. Davies Allan asking if they had “any objections” if he rewarded “The artist with the most interesting wall art to be painted where the steel roof ends” on the concrete wall of the town’s new salt shed. Selectmen voted against the request, saying they did not believe graphic art should be on the building.