Camden's Select Board will convene July 21 for a regularly scheduled meeting and address an agenda that includes contracting with Jay Feyler, who works with Maine Municipal Association, to assist in the search and selection of a Camden Town Manager.

The Select Board will consider spending $6,600 on the process, which is to include meeting with the Select Board to:

Conduct a needs assessment;

Provide a resume rating document for use by the resume review committee in reviewing resumes;

Develop an interview structure and rating document for use by the interview panel during the interviewing of candidates;

Provide a staff person to be present during the interviewing of candidates and to provide a briefing for the interview board and to coordinate the work of the town as a non-voting member;

Assist in the development and placement of recruitment advertisements for the position; and

Arrange for or conduct background investigations on up to two finalists after the interviews are concluded. The investigations will involve character reference, employment history, credit checks, and verification of educational attainment.

The contract stipulates that MMA is to handle all correspondence and direct contact with candidates and arrange for the location of interviews.

The $6,600 is to cover up to five meetings, and, according to the contract: "Meetings beyond the sixth will be charged at Mr. Feyler’s normal billing rate, plus expenses. The Town will pay for advertising costs, but all arrangements will be made by MMA. MMA will pre-pay for all advertising and then invoice the Town accordingly when the executive search is complete."

The contract also said: "Chair Select Board, Christopher J. Nolan will serve as the primary contact person and will assist MMA with routine administrative decisions and press relations."

Paid Parking

Included in the July 21 meeting packet is a financial summary of dollars earned over a three-week period this summer from revenue generated by the town's new parking kiosks.

The Select Board is to vote July 21 on whether to suspend the paid parking program for 2026. That agenda item follows a turbulent spring debate over the implementation of the town's addition of downtown paid parking kiosks. Paid parking has been a fixture on the Public Landing for several years, but in 2025, the Select Board voted to purchase meter kiosks and get revenue generated from an expanded paid parking program. Revenue from the kiosks was built into the 2026-2027 Camden Town Budget.

According to figures produced by the Town Office, the paid parking system that began June 22 earned $32,521 from June 22 to July 15, a daily average of $1,355.

Paid parking along certain streets in downtown Camden was initially scheduled to run through Oct. 31; however, the Select Board is debating its discontinuance.

On July 1, three Camden citizens delivered a petition to the Town Office requesting that voters have a say in whether there is a paid parking program in town.

"We believe that the Town of Camden is best served when the voice and desire of its residents are considered when substantive changes to our town are contemplated," the petition read.

According to Alex Cohen, one of the petition organizers, 725 signatures were collected, a number far above that which is required.

The petition also requested that the Select Board place the following warrant article before voters at the Nov. 3 elections, "or next scheduled municipal election, whichever is sooner."

And, they asked the town for a municipal charter amendment: "Each of the undersigned voters respectfully requests the municipal officers to provide the amendment of the municipal charter as set out below," the petition said. "Proposed Charter Amendment Text: Shall the Town of Camden Charter be amended to add the following section 2.18: 'Notwithstanding 30-A M.R.S. Section 3009, any ordinance or policy setting or increasing fees to park on Town of Camden public ways shall be null and void unless enacted by voters at a referendum election.'"

The July 21 full meeting agenda follows:

Select Board meetings are streamed live here.

Participate remotely on the Zoom webinar

Call to Order

1.Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

2.Badge Pinning of new Police Officers – Nathan Andrick and Trevor Carty

3.Approval of Minutes from: Special Meeting July 7; Regular Meeting July 7, Special Meeting July 9 and Special Meeting July 13, 2026

4.Consent Agenda:

a)Confirmation of name to be added to the Village Green Honor Roll – Zach Herrick

b)Acceptance of donation from Atlantic Engine Company of HEN nozzles to the Camden Fire Department

5.Town Manager's Report

6.Discussion Item(s):

a)Update from Michael Skaling on Curtis Island Project

b)Consideration of a new License Agreement for a portion of Town property on the Public Landing

7.Action Items:

a) Approval of Renewal License Agreement for Harbor Dogs on the Public Landing

b) Bid awards: Public Works backhoe and Public Works plow truck

c) Approval of Maine Municipal Association contract for Town Manager search

D) Vote on official MMA Ballot for Legislative Policy Committee

E) Approval of Property Tax Abatement

F) Assignment of Select Board liaisons to Town boards and committees

G) Consideration of appointments/reappointments to Town boards and committee.

E) Vote to suspend Paid Parking on the streets for the 2026 season

8. Select Board Reports