As COVID-19 continues impacting towns’ budgeting, Alna Treasurer Amy Stockford told selectmen via Zoom May 20, depending on when and if voters do a second round of spending, a second tax bill might be needed. “Not too popular,” Stockford said.

Alna has never had a second tax bill, Second Selectman Doug Baston said. And the board expressed no interest in having one this year.

The board plans to commit taxes in July. With social distancing in the fire station bay, voters in March carried out selectmen’s suggested, abbreviated town meeting and held off on new items, including paying toward work on the private Sand Building Road. Selectmen and fellow residents anticipated a followup town meeting when conditions improved. Then schools went remote for the rest of the year, masked shopping became the norm and Gov. Janet Mills released steps toward reopening the state.

Asked about the status of town meeting after Stockford’s comments, selectmen said they will call one if it is safe to hold it by the end of June, before committing taxes. Otherwise, “it’s almost purposeless,” Spinney said. “I guess we just need to wait and see ... if everything’s safe.”

Stockford also noted legal costs have come to $10,000 since the new fiscal year started in February. Spinney said $1,500 went toward getting this year’s tax anticipation note; the rest, to planning board legal costs.

The town attorney has been aiding the town as it considers Jeff Spinney’s application for a dock, ramp and float on the Sheepscot River. The proposal has prompted a series of letters and meeting comments as several residents raise questions and argue for putting the proposal on hold and stopping him from operating Golden Ridge Sportsman’s Club, in part for lack of a business license they contend it needs. His lawyer has refuted that.

Resident Jeff Philbrick told selectmen during public comment May 20: “There are a large number of people in town ... trying to figure out exactly what is going on at 126 Golden Ridge Road ... we need to get to the bottom of what is happening at that address with all of these different uses, structures, a brand new club, bylaws that keep changing, before we entertain a decision on the shoreland zoning application.”

Informed of the latest comments, Spinney responded, “These people don't seem to understand ordinances are not subjective. You don't get to pick what you like and what you don't. If a project meets ordinance, then that’s it. If a town body wants to change an ordinance, they can do that going forward. My project meets all the ordinance and permitting requirements by design. It has been approved by (Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and evaluated by numerous regulatory authorities as part of that process.”

Some attendees also urged selectmen to return to Zoom’s meeting option instead of webinar. Speakers wanted to see who else was on and to have a chat to use. “In my mind, this should be about serving the public (and) engaging public participation,” Ed Pentaleri said. Maine Municipal Association recommended the webinar format, Selectman Spinney said. Philbrick suggested using the fire station, where he said people could be at least six feet apart. Selectman Spinney called that a good suggestion.

Responding to correspondence that included the business permit argument, Baston said if the board acted, that would be saying GRSC needed a license. That’s for the planning board to decide, he said. “I don’t want to put my thumb on the scale.” Selectman Spinney, the applicant’s wife, recused herself. And Third Selectman Greg Shute said, “I can’t vote by myself.”

“I guess it dies for lack of a quorum,” and remains for the planning board to decide, Baston said.

Two wires on the railing of Head Tide Dam’s new overlook have come down, Shute said. “It’s not really clear what happened to it,” he said. Atlantic Salmon Federation, which put in the overlook as part of last year’s work at the dam, will fund the fix, Baston said.

Selectman Spinney said residents’ recent donations to the town’s food pantry total $2,400. CLC YMCA that day donated a lot of canned goods. “So that was great.” And she said Stockford is working on paperwork for a $1,000 donation Central Maine Power wants to make to the pantry.

Selectmen planned to meet next at 6 p.m. June 3 via Zoom. They planned to open the snowplowing bids, Selectman Spinney said.