CAMDEN — Camden's Public Library Amphitheater has been nominated to the National Park Service as a National Historic Landmark, a decision that will be made Nov. 7 or 8 at the General Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

This evening, at a regularly scheduled meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. In the Washington Street Meeting Room, the Select Board will hear how the town may officially comment on the nomination. The process by which a property in the U.S. Becomes a National Historic Landmark is methodical, and it is ultimately up to the National Park System Advisory Board and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Maine has 42 national historic landmarks; in this region, Fort Knox in Prospect and the Olson House in Cushing, plus a number of schooners with home ports in Camden and Rockland. Becoming an historic landmark is not easy, and are considered so because they "posess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. There are 2,500 historic places in the U.S. That bear the distinction, according to the National Park Service.

"National Historic Landmarks are exceptional places," the service says. "They form a common bond between all Americans. While there are many historic places across the nation, only a small number have meaning to all Americans--these we call our National Historic Landmarks."

Becoming a national landmark also opens doors to funding for protection of properties and other projects.

According to the lengthy nomination submission, the: "Camden Amphitheatre and Public Library is nationally significant under NHL Criterion 4 and NHL Theme, Expressing Cultural Values (Landscape Architecture). Designed and constructed between 1928 and 1931, this one-of-a-kind property represents the creative genius of Fletcher Steele (1885-1971), one of the nation’s premier practitioners of 20th-Century landscape design. The Camden Amphitheatre, with the associated grounds of the Camden Public Library, is an outstanding and enduring example of Steele’s work – one that reflects the inspiration of many historical antecedents and the fusion of several distinct early twentieth century trends in landscape design. At the same time, his design for the amphitheater reflects his emerging interest in European Modernism and foreshadows the introduction of modernist principles in American landscape architecture. The Camden Amphitheatre and the grounds of the library form a unique designed landscape, representing the genius of Steele’s method of fusing multiple design concepts to form a single, unified landscape composition – one aesthetically compelling and functionally successful. Rendered in native stone and planted with indigenous trees and shrubs, Steele’s composition achieves a highly articulated sense of regionalism, providing an essential link between the Colonial Revival design of the library building and the celebrated scenery of the Camden waterfront and coastal Maine."

In other town business

• The board will hear about Youth Arts' 40th anniversary, which will be celebrated Nov. 3 at High Mountain Hall in Camden;
  
  
• Hear an update about the U.S. Tobboggan Nationals scheduled for Feb. 8, 9 and 10, 2013;
  
  
• Consider a petition from 20 residents of Rockbrook Drive, who want the town to resurface that road (Camden needs to give immediate attention to resurfacing," the petition said);
  
  
• Consider the renewal agreement for the Curtis island caretaker;
  
  
• Authorize the sale of Camden Fire Department's Engine 1. Two bids have arrived for the old fire truck, which is to be sold following the arrival of Camden's new truck. The fire department advertised the sale of the truck with the Maine Fire Chiefs Association and Maine Municipal Association. North Lakes Fire and Rescue, of Caribou, is offering to pay $20,000 and Jonesboro is offering $23,501 for it.
  
  
• The board will also consider issuing a resolution to support state bonds for higher education, transportation and water/wastewater improvements.