In his memo (see entire Select Board July 7 meeting packet here), Martin said Camden: “has been soliciting ideas from local businesses on ways that the Town could help support them through these challenging times. We have specifically solicited input about the use of public spaces. We have responded to restaurant owner’s requests to make outdoor seating available and have placed picnic tables at the Public Landing, the Village Green and at Harbor Park. Additionally, at the request of downtown business owners we have also opened up the bathroom facilities at the Public Landing and have placed numerous signs downtown reminding our residents and visitors of the need to wear masks and to appropriately social distance.

Johnson-Pendleton is hoping the town will allow her to set up shop from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Pop-Up Fridays for eight weeks. She noted in her written request to the town that she declined to sign another lease on her store, and said the store’s expansion plans had included launching an e-commerce site.

“We successfully launched the online store in January and with the continued State closures Barefoot in Denim has had to pivot our complete 2020 strategy and look for ways to bridge the economic realities for the remainder of the year,” she wrote. “We are working diligently to survive this pandemic and keep our dream alive until we can get back into a new Camden storefront in the Spring of 2021. The global pandemic has impacted us all and pushed us down but Barefoot in Denim will not stay down. The company’s plan is to stay alive. We are requesting assistance and entrepreneurial thinking from the Town of Camden Planning Board to explore creative alternatives to enable us to serve our Camden and surround area customers.”