(Ed. Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed a quote by Selectman Jim Cosgrove to Selectman Josh Pinkham. This text has been edited accordingly. The Lincoln County News apologizes for the error.)
The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen met July 1 and voted to make a transition plan for a stand-alone public works department, independent from Newcastle and the interlocal agreement.
Damariscotta residents who attended the annual town meeting June 10 voted to maintain the agreement and its funding level, despite Selectman Josh Pinkham’s attempts to eliminate funding for the agreement.
During the town meeting, Pinkham proposed reducing a $105,495 line item in the budget for the interlocal agreement to $0 and adding $65,495 to the $228,045 to be appropriated for the town’s highway department. Voters rejected the amendment and passed the original budget, 42-18.
The Damariscotta selectmen had previously agreed to continue working toward an extension of the interlocal agreement between the towns for public works, and Newcastle voters also adopted a budget for joint public works operations at their annual town meeting last month. The Newcastle selectmen have repeatedly voiced unanimous support for the arrangement.
The Damariscotta board entertained a lengthy discussion about the interlocal agreement on Wednesday night, and Pinkham reintroduced the idea of a stand-alone public works department for the town.
Pinkham has steadfastly opposed the interlocal agreement since before its initial passage in 2011. He was re-elected to the board last month after a one-year break.
Pinkham has repeatedly said he would prefer to have the town hire local contractors for public works projects.
Selectman Jim Cosgrove’s motion for a transition plan to a stand-alone public works department passed unanimously, and the board agreed to notify Newcastle that Damariscotta might not ratify a long-term local agreement.
“A service center town like Damariscotta has different needs than a town like Newcastle,” Cosgrove said.
The interlocal agreement was due to expire June 30. A joint committee has been working on a new agreement, but it was not ready in time for the meeting Wednesday evening. The Damariscotta board had approved a 15-day extension 3-1 June 26, with Ronn Orenstein absent and Pinkham casting the dissenting vote.
The agreement was supposed to be in place by June 30, but the committee was not able to meet in time to sign the agreement, according to an email from Newcastle Town Administrator Lynn Maloney.
Damariscotta’s transition plan is not expected to be complete by the board’s next meeting Wednesday, July 15. The selectmen would have to pass another extension at that time or the agreement would lapse.
The Newcastle Board of Selectmen, which has also extended the agreement, held a brief discussion about the conflict at its meeting on Monday, July 6. Selectman Brian Foote believes that the agreement has worked since its approval in 2011.
Selectman Ben Frey said it’s still “too early to talk about divorce,” though the board discussed the notion of moving forward separately.
“We need to do what’s best for our town,” said Selectman Carolyn Hatch.
