Castine
Board likes kayak business, postpones vote on use of town property

By Sharon Bray
After lengthy discussion at its November 17 meeting, the board of selectmen decided to postpone a vote on action on town dock use by Castine Kayaks for next summer.

Representing the town’s harbor committee, Bente Hartmann encouraged selectmen to lease dock space to Karen Francoeur for parking the kayaks she rents and uses for teaching paddlers.

“The kayaks have to be close to the water and we have precious little space for that,” Hartmann said.

Francoeur said she houses her business headquarters and equipment sales in a building at Eaton’s Boat Yard. Last summer she was granted space on private property for the boats, but she has not yet heard from the owners about permission for the 2009 season.

“I’m worried about precedent,” said Selectman Peter Vogell, noting that currently the seasonal food business, “The Breeze,” is the only commercial business allowed on town property as it has been for decades. “If we open this up, it could be a disaster.”

Vogell referred to the policy that forbids vendors on town property and noted that L.L. Bean was forced by the policy to move its kayak seminars from the back shore to Maine Maritime Academy. “You can’t say ‘yes’ to one and ‘no’ to another.”

From the audience, Robin Mass said the town’s comprehensive plan calls for support of marine businesses.

Harbormaster Don Mordecai said, “I’d much rather have hot dog stands and kayaks than parking on the town dock.”

“Castine Kayaks is a town business and a known element,” commented resident Liz Parish.

“That’s not enough to forget the town’s policy,” responded Selectman Gus Basile.

David Unger, chairman of the board, called for a special town meeting for voters to decide whether to side-step its commercial vendor policy.

“That’s breaking policy again,” said Vogell, who later conceded it is practiced but not written policy to limit special town meetings to emergencies and votes forced by citizen petition.

By waiting until their next meeting, selectmen concluded they could give Francoeur time to hear back from the property owners about a lease for next year and time for citizens to file a petition if necessary for a special meeting to vote on the proposed use of dock space.

In a related item, selectmen voted in favor of the harbor committee recommendation “to appoint an ad hoc committee to work with Maine Maritime Academy developing a joint long-range plan for the Castine waterfront.”

Hartmann will serve on the planning committee and said she anticipates asking for a business district representative. Selectmen also appointed Mordecai, harbor committee members Jim Whittemore and David Wyman, Town Manager Dale Abernethy, architect JT Loomis, and Kevin Coady, who was recommended by Tim Leach. Mordecai said Leach, and possibly others, will represent MMA.

After several weeks of preliminary talks, selectmen voted to adopt Abernethy’s list of recommendations on grounds care at Dyce Head light. Garden Club President Pat Mordecai added her voice of approval for plans to mow and maintain the lawn, mow other open areas once a year, periodically remove barberry bushes to “keep growth in check,” and to thin a stand of sumac trees to promote its continued healthy growth.

After a flurry of discussion about asking private property owners to remove their barberries to prevent birds from spreading seeds, selectmen decided to stick to controlling the invasive plant on town property.

The board approved a list of consultants presented by Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Ann Miller. The town’s preservation ordinance requires selectmen’s approval of consultants, and Miller said the commission would prefer to be prepared if they need to call on one. Generally, she said, an applicant would be required to pay related fees, but she would go to selectmen for permission before hiring one at the town’s expense. Christopher Glass, William Murtagh, Deborah Thompson and Les Fossel were placed on the approved list.

A letter from Mordecai initiated discussion of snow removal from sidewalks on Main Street. He suggested that property owners be required to clear their sidewalks on the post office side from Court to Water streets.

Hartmann described one problem as “a mountain” of snow on the downhill end of the post office property, forcing pedestrians to walk around it in the street.

Abernethy described a similar mountain at Jim Day’s property line with the town hall.

“Our sidewalks have never been open in the winter,” stated Vogell. “We ought to find out if the town can tell property owners to clear theirs.”

Unger said he comes “from away” where property owners are required to keep walks clear.

“If we had a new policy, we’d have to enforce it,” said Vogell. Selectmen took no action on the issue.

After hearing that the selectmen’s meeting with MMA, so-called town-gown, had been postponed until December, Parish urged town officials to discuss an academy proposal that would add a five-week session in May and June.

Basile noted that MMA officials had repeatedly stated that they would not expand to a three-term year.

“A summer course [at MMA] would be truly devastating for the town,” Vogell added.

In other business, selectmen voted to “extend the labor agreement” with the town’s unionized workers for one year.

In accordance with tradition, Unger passed on leadership of the board to Gus Basile, the selectman with the shortest remaining time in his elected term.

Town Clerk Sue Motycka announced that a public hearing on a school consolidation plan is scheduled for Monday, December 15, at 7 p.m. She said towns involved will vote on the proposal January 27, 2009.

Selectmen decided to hold their December 1 meeting at the usual 4 p.m. and their December 15 meeting at 6 p.m. 

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