Westport Island selectmen discussed several issues concerning money at their meeting Monday, Nov. 9, the lengthiest discussion involving a visit from Anthony Keefe of Woolwich. Keefe was cited by Code Enforcement Officer Gary Richardson for four violations at Keefe’s property on Westport Island’s Old Woods Road.

Keefe was cited for clearing vegetation in a protected 75-foot buffer zone along Back River. According to Richardson’s Sept. 20 letter to Keefe, the violations included the removal of saplings, ground cover and trees less than three feet tall.

Additional violations were for failure to obtain building permits for construction of decks and filling and earth-moving at the property to extend a driveway. The fourth violation was for failure to obtain a permit before installing a ramp and float.

The letter from the town had given Keefe an Oct. 12 deadline for submitting after-the-fact building permit applications, but applications were not received by that date. Keefe’s visit to Monday’s meeting prompted questioning by the town officials. “Isn’t that property for sale?” asked Selectman George Richardson Jr. Keefe apologized for the lack of permits, saying that “every town is different and I should have talked with the code enforcement officer before I started the work.”

It was agreed that Keefe will complete and submit the after-the-fact applications which will carry fines of triple the usual amount ($50 for a minor project and $150 for major projects.) In addition, there will be a planning board hearing on the ramp and float permit which may lead to additional costs to Keefe. Selectmen agreed on a deadline of Nov. 20 for the applications.

The selectmen moved through the evening’s agenda and announced that the island’s volunteer fire department had received a $2,000 grant. The Maine Municipal Association awarded the safety enhancement grant for the purchase of SCBA cylinders used by the firefighters.

Selectman Ross Norton has asked residents of the island to contact him at 882-6242 if they would like the town to hold bingo or beano games at the town hall in upcoming months. Norton had indicated that a few residents had expressed an interest in bingo; selectmen will consider making the game available if enough residents express an interest.