The past month for George Chase has been a whirlwind of change. He’s gone from being a code enforcement officer to a former CEO, a selectmen’s candidate to selectman, and, on May 28, in a matter of minutes went from selectman to board chairman.

For Chase, becoming chair was unexpected. “I didn’t seek it, and I was surprised,” he said. “Lynn (Norgang, selectman) recommended it, when I was thinking one of them (Norgang, Michael Maxim) would be the chairman.” Chase added, being picked for chairman was an “honor.”

Chase succeeded Mike Smith as both a selectman and board chairman.

In other action, selectmen approved sending a letter to Town Hall Road residents asking them to watch their speed. Chase estimates the road has only a couple residents. “We just want to remind them to slow down,” he said. Selectmen also approved a liquor license for Glidden Point Oyster Farm. 

Selectmen discussed the town’s Pride Celebration plans in June with East Boothbay resident Byron Cortez.

This spring, Cortez has met with all four peninsula towns requesting a month-long June Pride celebration. In Southport, Boothbay and Edgecomb, Cortez requested a town proclamation making June pride month. On May 28, Cortez requested Boothbay Harbor officials do what they could to promote the celebration. Southport approved a proclamation and hanging the Pride banner on the municipal flag pole during June. Boothbay didn’t approve the request and made alternate recommendations such as using Boothbay Common for a celebration. 

Edgecomb is still formulating its celebration plan. May 29, Chase reported the selectboard decided to place a Pride banner on the town hall sign in June. The board is still editing wording on the proposed Pride proclamation. There are no crosswalks in Edgecomb which led to a discussion at a previous meeting about painting the rainbow Pride pattern on Cross Point Road for the June 22 Edgecomb 250 Road Race. “That is a decision for the Edgecomb 250 Committee to make. It’s really not something the selectmen have control over,” he said.

Selectmen appointed Phil Haas as the new CEO/licensed plumbing inspector. Haas previously served on the planning board. Later, selectmen appointed former planning board member David Nutt to succeed Haas.

At the May 18 town meeting, residents voted to make the fire chief a full-time position. Selectmen plan on holding workshops to determine a job description and benefits package as part of a warrant article. Chase said a proposal should be finalized at the next meeting on June 11, with plans for a likely special town meeting at the board’s last meeting of the fiscal year on June 25.