Wiscasset Board of Selectmen has voted ‘no’ to an initial proposed agreement involving equipment, as part of the Boothbay Region YMCA winter facility-sharing plan. While not denying the partnership outright, both Selectmen Bob Blagdon and Nichols were opposed to an equipment purchase request in the proposed agreement.
“We would like to see the money go to the general fund and not be laundered along the way for an equipment purchase,” said Blagdon.
Parks and Recreation director Todd Souza, clearly frustrated by the board’s denial, had argued that his members should receive some compensation in return for the inconvenience of sharing the facility.
“This discourages departments from making these types of efforts on their behalf if all the money goes to one fund,” said Selectman Ed Polewarczyk.
The roughly $15,000 in compensation from Boothbay is similar to a facility sharing agreement the town has with Westport Island.
Earlier in the Nov. 2 meeting, Polewarczyk presented to the board a quarterly report from the investment advisory committee. He advocated the town adopt a perpetual fund with an annual withdrawal that would provide annual resources and maintain the solvency of the fund.
“I’d like to say I’m overjoyed by Ed’s hard work; this should have been done years ago,” said Dunning.
The next Wiscasset Board of Selectmen meeting is Tues., Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
