It looks like the taxpayers of Westport Island will be paying more in legal fees, following an appeal made of a recent planning board action.

Residents Michael Stern and Paul Nergaard have appealed the board's December 12 , 2006 decision to approve the Ferry Landing boat ramp project. At the January 31 selectmen's meeting, the selectmen decided to approve a request from the Board of Appeals for legal advice.

After a brief discussion, the selectmen voted to hire James Katsiaficas, an attorney with the law firm Perkins, Thompson, Hinckley, and Keddy, from Portland. The Board of Appeals also asked about having a court stenographer record the proceedings of the board meetings. The selectmen will ask Katsiaficas whether a court stenographer is needed, or if a voice recording of the meeting will be sufficient.

The Board of Appeals will hold a hearing 60 days from the time the applications are completed.

The Board of Appeals met Monday, January 29, to appoint a chairman, and secretary, and to review the written appeals, which was missing some information. Neil Cavanaugh was elected chairman, and Mike Szuc was elected secretary of the board.

Town Sand Pile

At the January 24 selectmen's meeting, snowplow contractor, Ronald Harrison, asked the board if they had sold the town owned sand located on at G&D Cromwell's place of business, because the pile had gone down.

The selectmen told Harrison they had not sold it, but would check with Cromwell to see what was happening with the sand. The selectmen received a letter from Gary Cromwell explaining the use of the sand.

"On January 20 and 21, 2007, we had a lot of ice and at no charge to the town, G&D Cromwell, Inc, used the small pile to help treat bus turnarounds and other areas," Cromwell wrote.

"Our decision to do so was based on the following reason: The state of Maine wanted this material used as soon as we could; Ron Harrison would not allow us to deliver this material to him on his land; The sand and salt could not be stored in a larger stock pile than 100 yards; This material was starting to freeze up and the salt was depleting; and this material was purchased for the town of Westport Island."

Cromwell who is the town road commissioner said, "Based on these reasons, I decided the best use was to use this material as I deemed for the best interest of the town. The value we donated to the town was approximately $500. This included the loader and the truck that spread it."

The selectmen will send Harrison a copy of Cromwell's letter.

The selectmen received a letter from the Department of Conservation, Submerged Lands Coordinator, Carol DiBello, with the Submerged Land Lease permit for the Ferry Landing project. The permit is good until December 31, 2035.

A letter was received from Naomi Bonany, Industries Supervisor at the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset, explaining the objectives of the program, and how it could be a workforce available to the town.

The object of the program is to keep inmates constructively occupied, to teach job skills and the discipline needed to obtain and maintain employment upon release, and to provide a service at a reasonable cost.

"As part of our mission to encourage growth and learning for every inmate, we are developing a Jail Industries Program," Bonany said. "We offer inmates the opportunity to improve their abilities through education, training and experience in order to become productive members of the communities."

The selectman decided to look into what costs may be associated with requesting inmate services.

The selectmen appointed Dedee Greenleaf Hodgkin as the deputy town clerk and registrar.