Mary Coventry and Gaye Wagner, representing the Westport Island History Committee, received approval from selectmen on Monday evening for the committee’s 2016 strategic plan.

The committee’s co-chairmen presented information at the board of selectmen’s meeting citing three major focus areas: organization, space and the collection. The board was provided with a summary of accomplishments during the previous year which included creating an operating structure for the history committee and crafting a mission statement, operating plan and policies for the group.

Grant funding was secured to enlist the services of a professional to advise committee members about creating a space where historical materials could be housed safely.

Chronicling the island’s history requires the collection and cataloging of artifacts and in 2015 committee members attended workshops to acquire expertise, joined Maine Archives and Museums and added donations to the collection.

Coventry lauded the committee’s members as “wonderfully skilled, active and providing a breadth of expertise.”

The committee plans to create a research and use policy, continue training, and ensure that the space for the collection is used as efficiently as possible. Additionally, the members will use the Internet and will digitize the collections as they become available. Creating awareness of the collections is another goal that has been identified for the coming year.

Wagner and Coventry asked for comments from the board and opened a discussion about future funding.  Board Chairman George Richardson Jr., a member of the History Committee, provided guidance focusing on four possible funding sources. These included a proposed warrant article, holding fundraising events, seeking financial gifts from local property owners and obtaining grant funding.

Discussion concluded with the selectmen’s vote to approve the committee’s 2016 plan.