Westport Island officials Monday night said they would like to hear from any townspeople who would like to help with a possible expanded task for the broadband committee: Exploring how to use technology to spread word to residents in an emergency. Participants in the selectmen’s meeting at the town office and over Zoom noted Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency has the CodeRED service people can register for to receive alerts. But whether that or another service, they said some residents may not have smart phones or other technology to get messages.

Selectmen and others mulled a possible new committee on technology, or expanding the broadband committee’s scope. Selectmen asked reporters to request residents contact the town office if interested in joining the broadband committee to aid that possible new work.  Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission might also be of help, participants said.

Also Monday, selectmen said the town needs to keep saving toward a revaluation. The reserve account for that has a $9,458 balance, according to information Selectman Jeff Tarbox shared as the board continued work on a budget to propose at town meeting. “That’s obviously not enough,” and the next revaluation is scheduled for 2025, Tarbox said.

Asking voters for $10,000 or so this year would “give us a better head start,” he said. 

In other prospective items for town meeting, Tarbox said Fire Chief Stacey Hutchison has requested a public safety reserve account be started for costly items such as vehicle replacement; Hutchison has proposed $35,000 for the would-be account’s first year.

The town’s surplus as of June 30, 2022 was $476,571, Tarbox said.