Westport Island selectmen awarded the East Shore Road shimming, a type of paving, bid to E A. Reynolds, of Georgetown at a cost of $22,375. Although the town advertised for the work, only one bid was received.

Before the selectmen awarded the bid to Reynolds, they asked Road Commissioner Garry Cromwell if he was familiar with the work of the only bidder. Cromwell told the selectmen he was familiar with Reynolds work, and was satisfied with what Reynolds was supposing for the work on the East Shore Road.

Reynolds produced proof of insurance, and the work is expected to begin as early as next week. Cromwell said, joking, “I do not want to plow the road so you can do your shimming,” implying the sooner he Reynolds started the better.

Selectmen meet with legal council

Westport Island is being sued by a California company in a dispute stemming from the public boat launch project of 2010. The selectmen will meet with Attorney William Dale, Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 a.m., to discuss the case.

American Contractors Indemnity Company, which issues performance bonds, claims the town should have sent the company more than $250,000. The town was directed to send the payments to the bonding company, it is being alleged by the bonding company, and the town paid the contractor Bill Whorff directly, according to a complaint filed in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset. The town has denied the charges.

Abatements and supplementary tax bills

A Westport Island landowner may not be happy with the news he will be sent a supplementary tax bill of $1,356 due to an error on his tax card.

Conrad Carantit, the owner of two parcels of land on Westport Island, apparently questioned his tax bill on one parcel of land, and during the research it was determined an error had been made on the second parcel of land, but not in his favor. The selectmen voted to only send an additional tax bill for 1 year, informing Carantit they could have gone back 3 years.

Eileen Moran received a decrease in assessed value of $31,630 of her property and will receive an abatement of $240.39.

Due to another error in the town’s transition from the Newberg Computer system to the TRIO system the selectmen will issue a supplementary tax bill to Brad Alder for $51.98, and abatement to Richard Cook in the same amount.

Other business

The town’s new ad-hoc Road Committee mission was discussed with Committee Member James Cromwell during the selectmen’s meeting. The selectmen and the Road Committee will meet to discuss the goals of the committee at a future meeting.

The selectmen indicated at their meeting the six floats at the Wright Landing, are to be taken out of the water Saturday, Oct. 13. Some discussion as to leaving two floats in the water during the winter months was discouraged by the selectmen. The town is seeking a permit from the state and the Army Corps of Engineers to make two of the floats permanent. First Selectmen George Richardson has asked permission from the state to leave two floats in the water. As of Monday evening’s meeting the state has not replied.

“Unless we hear from the state before Saturday, we need to pull all six floats out of the water,” Richardson said.

George Richardson III was appointed to the town’s Cemetery Committee.

William Cooney, chairman of the town hall committee, told the selectmen the Cemetery Committee received a donation from Christina Jennings. Jennings came to Westport Island looking for the grave sites of her ancestors and was pleased to find how well the old cemeteries were maintained. She made a donation of $120.