Welders dismantle the Mitchell Field water tower. (Nathan Strout / Times Record file photo)
HARPSWELL — Harpswell voters approved both municipal ballot questions Tuesday, transferring $30,000 into the town’s depleted legal fund and appropriating $25,000 toward improving parking at the Pott’s Point boat launch.
Residents supported adding money to the town’s legal fund 1,871 to 1,291, refilling the legal coffers after a contentious court dispute with a small group of Harpswell residents who wanted to save the Mitchell Field water tower.
After residents voted at the March town meeting to demolish the water tower, the group petitioned for a revote of the issue. Instead of demolishing the structure, they argued, the town should hand it over to The Friends of Mitchell Field, who could oversee repairs and maintenance while pursuing the possibility of installing cell phone service equipment on the structure.
When Harpswell selectmen rejected their petition, the group sued the town. While the group lost its lawsuit and the tower was torn down in late September, the ensuing legal battle drained the town’s legal fund.
Harpswell had $50,000 reserved for legal costs in 2018. According to Town Administrator Kristi Eiane, the lawsuit cost the town more than $60,000. Tuesday’s vote will allow the town to transfer $30,000 from the unassigned fund balance to the contingency reserve account to cover those unexpected legal fees.
Residents also voted 2,352 to 901 in favor of allocating $25,000 toward improving parking at the Pott’s Point boat launch. That’s in addition to the $25,000 that was already allocated to the project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $100,000, with the state covering half of the costs through a Small Harbor Improvement grant.
Construction could begin as early as February.
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