Castine
Finance meeting for infrastructure project
moved to earlier date
Motycka to serve as acting town manager

BY COLIN POWELL
Selectman David Unger said at the February 24 Castine selectmen’s meeting that he felt the public would be better served by having a discussion of finance options for the first phase of Castine’s infrastructure project as soon as possible. Instead of waiting until the March 22 selectmen’s meeting, he proposed swapping a discussion of the town’s fiscal year and budget scheduled for the March 8 selectmen’s meeting. “I’ve talked to a few people, and they all feel it would be better to have discussions sooner,” said Unger. The board approved a motion to switch the two meetings unanimously.

Town Clerk Susan Macomber added that the group responsible for developing the project plan, Civil Engineering Services of Brewer, said they would likely be able to attend a meeting on March 8, but she would follow up with them to make sure.

At the end of the meeting Unger also noted that there might be parts of the plan that will have to be clarified with the public. As an example, he noted the use of granite curbs in the proposal put together by CES. Acting Town Manager Karen Motycka noted that at one point in the past the town approved a policy that stipulates the use of granite curbs, and CES has to plan on what is written in those documents. Nonetheless, Motycka added that CES is including an alternative of cast concrete curbs in their bid specifications so the town can see the true cost of both options.

In other business, the selectmen, acting in response to a letter from Town Manager Dale Abernethy, unanimously voted Finance Officer Karen Motycka to serve as acting town manager until such time as Abernethy can return to his full duties. Motycka will assume approximately 80 percent of the town manager job, with Abernethy performing the remaining 20 percent, as he is able to from home.

Speaking after the meeting, Macomber said Abernethy has not been on a regular schedule since January 18 when he was diagnosed with a nerve disease. She said he is undergoing treatment and has good days and bad days. The length of his absence is unknown.

“We all share in our concern for Dale’s disability,” said Unger at the meeting, “but I have confidence in Karen’s abilities.”

Unger added that Motycka has served as acting town manager in the past, when the town did not have a manager for a brief time. Chairman Peter Vogell read section 2634 of Title 30 of the Maine state statutes, which gives the selectmen the authority to appoint an interim manager.

Selectman Gus Basile noted that with Abernethy’s extended absence and both Macomber and Motycka picking up extra work, the town may have to consider closing the town office one day each week. Asked how things worked when she was last acting town manager, Motycka noted that tasks got divvied up, but added that right now there was not a lot of extra time in anybody’s schedule and things might get tight.

“I found I’ve been working some on weekends, some in the evenings,” said Motycka of the time since Abernethy’s departure, though she noted that Abernethy has been very helpful in doing what he can.

Planning Board member Robin Mass was in the audience and assured the selectmen that this year’s proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance are all fairly minor, mostly clearing up inconsistencies. Macomber noted that a full copy of all changes is available on the home page of the town’s Web site, www.castine.me.us. The selectmen approved the amendments unanimously.

Lastly, the selectmen considered a petition from an organization called Silver Star Families of America to designate a day in May as Silver Star Banner Day in honor of wounded and ill citizens. The selectmen briefly discussed the idea, but decided they wanted more information before acting on the request.

The next selectmen’s meeting will be Monday, March 8, at 4 p.m. and will be preceded by a public information session on the financing options for phase one of the town’s infrastructure project.

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