Biscay Road, Damariscotta residents on Nov. 1 went to selectmen with concerns about what a boat launch on the small pond would entail.

Jaja Martin spoke for the residents. “The pond is long and narrow. When jets kis and other motor boats come to the pond, they essentially go right down in a straight line and straight back. There are no coves they can go into. That means that any wake goes straight across the pond until it hits the shore on either side. A lot of people have docks, boats and houses right down on the water. The wake can be pretty severe.”

Martin said a lot of residents have young kids who swim off the docks and she was concerned about their safety if boat access is expanded. Martin was also concerned about ecological issues, including invasive species carried in on boats.

The town had received a harbor grant from the Maine Department of Parks and Lands for an engineering study to identify where a boat launch could go. The small beach has a very small parking lot and anyone launching a boat takes it across the beach. Thee is no space for a trailer parking area. Residents had long asked for a launch to separate the beach area from the boating area, so the town got a grant to look at the feasibility of the boat launch. 

Selectman Robin Mayer moved that the issue of whether or not to accept the harbor grant be tabled until December when there is a full board. Leshure was not present, and George Parker had already resigned. The election for Parker’s unexpired seat is Nov. 7. The three selectmen present voted to table the issue, but were leaning toward doing the study. “We wouldn’t actually do the work until we had raised funds for that,” Mayer said. “That could be a long way away.”

In response to residents’ concerns, a guard rail will be added to the culvert work on Egypt Road. One side of the road has a deep ditch and residents were concerned about slide offs, especially in the winter. Funds will be transferred from contingency to add the $4,330 guard rail.

The board approved the purchase contract of a new fire engine for $459,877. Funds have been set aside over several  years, and the fire department will chip in $11,512 for the truck’s larger storage boxes Also Nov. 1, selectmen also approved the design and engineering contract for the Waterfront Park restrooms and pedestrian walkway. Wright-Pierce will get $56,650.

The town is planning a community discussion on marijuana, tentatively Nov. 16 at town hall at 5:30 p.m. Rulemaking on marijuana sales at the state level is still ongoing.